High School

Norco and Murrieta Valley shatter Southern Section scoring record in epic overtime battle

Norco pulled out a 77-76 – yes, 77-76 – victory

Lance Smith, SBLive Sports

For the first time in CIF Southern Section history, 150 points were scored in a game on Friday.

And nobody will be surprised to hear which teams are to thank. 

Norco and Murrieta Valley, two of the top 25 teams in the section and highest-scoring teams in the state, finished regulation at 69-69 in their heavyweight Big West League - Upper Division battle.

It was already good for 138 points, third most in CIFSS history.

Then the Nighthawks got the ball to start overtime and scored again on a 1-yard run from Asa Chatman. A PAT made gave them a 76-69 lead.

Norco responded with a touchdown pass from Tyler Dudden to Camden Connor, and it would've been pure blasphemy at that point if the Cougars didn't go for two. They did, and RB Kalani Kaleiwahea converted through duress.

With a 77-76 final, 153 points were scored, nine more than the previous record. That record belonged to Bloomington and Artesia in 1994, when Bloomington defeated the Pioneers 82-62 in the CIF quarterfinals. Additionally, Bloomington went on to finish the 1994 season with 880 points, by far the most in Southern Section history.

After Friday, Norco – which scored 69 points in regulation last week as well against Vista Murrieta – has scored 336 points in seven games (48 points per game). And Murrieta Valley, which like Norco moves to 5-2, is up to 380 points (54.3 per game).

It's safe to say quite a few skill position players had career nights on Friday. Don't be surprised to see these two offensive juggernauts continue putting up 50, 60, or however many points are needed on just about anybody who tries to stop them.

Published
Lance Smith, SBLive Sports
LANCE SMITH, SBLIVE SPORTS

Lance Smith is a veteran high school sports reporter who worked previously with SBLive Sports covering basketball, football, and softball in California's Southern Section and LA City Section and has returned as contributor to High School On SI in 2025. He also covers Nevada and National Girls Basketball. A graduate of The USC Marshall School of Business, Smith dabbles in linear algebra and football and basketball computer rankings.

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