MORENO VALLEY - Even with a player like Mike Snaer on his roster, Moreno Valley Rancho Verde coach Travis Showalter prefers keeping his offense balanced. But he doesn't mind a little dominance now and then.

Snaer scored 16 points in the third quarter Monday as the Mustangs held on for a 72-64 victory over Moreno Valley Canyon Springs, clinching the Inland Valley League title for the defending CIF-Southern Section Division 2A champions.

Facing a Canyon Springs team they had barely beaten, 61-60, in their first meeting, the Mustangs (21-5, 12-1 IVL) trailed 23-19 with just over two minutes left in the first half. That's when Snaer took over, scoring the last eight points of the half to take a four-point lead.

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Silvia Flores / The Press-Enterprise

Mike Snaer (right) has 39 points as Rancho Verde clinches the Inland Valley League title against Clint Roy's Cougars.

The Florida State-bound guard followed that up by scoring 12 consecutive points in the third quarter as the home team took command. Snaer finished with 39 points, 12 rebounds, two blocks and a steal.

"Michael's grown a lot this season as far as letting the game come to him," Showalter said. "But we do rely on him in spurts sometimes, and he really came through."

The third-quarter outburst was enough to help withstand a late rally by Canyon Springs (15-10, 10-3). The Cougars chipped away behind Andre Conley, who scored nine of his team-high 23 points in the final quarter, and got as close as 66-60.

"We didn't do all we needed to do tonight," Canyon Springs coach Jeff Stovall said. "(Snaer) is a great player, and we gave him more than we should have."

Sonny Reese (11 points) was the only other Mustang in double figures, coming off the bench to hit three threes.

Nico Brooks and Garion Johnson each scored 13 points for Canyon Springs.