Ward Points Santa Clara to Victory in Quarterfinals

If there’s a better point guard in the region than B.J. Ward of Santa Clara High, Coach Lou Cvijanovich sure hasn’t seen one.

“God almighty, I don’t know what he can’t do,” Cvijanovich said. “He could stop on a dime, he could do anything. He’s amazing.”

Ward, bound for UC Santa Barbara, provided quite an exhibition of fundamental basketball Wednesday night, scoring 28 points while making 13 of 17 shots and the Saints routed North Hollywood, 86-46, in a quarterfinal game of the Simi Valley boys’ tournament at Camarillo High.

The 6-foot-1 Ward dribbles the ball with so much confidence and skill he looks as if he could do it with his eyes closed. And he has.

“When it was dark, I’d go outside and dribble,” he said of his early basketball days.

Ward and 6-4 Nick Jones, who scored 22 points, give the Saints (2-0) an impressive backcourt for Cvijanovich, who won his 801st career game in 41 seasons of coaching.

Santa Clara has a chance to win a state Division V championship this season.

The Saints don’t have anyone taller than 6-4, but they play hard, unselfish basketball.

Next up for Santa Clara is a 6 p.m. semifinal game against Camarillo on Friday at Simi Valley.