BLUE DEVILS FARE WELL AT TOURNEY SIMI VALLEY BASKETBALL TEAM IS SECOND.Byline: Sean Ceglinsky Staff Writer ``Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. ? Where is that?'' That's what coach Earle Okamoto and his under-15 Blue Devils blue devil n. 1. A blue capsule or tablet containing barbiturate amobarbital or its sodium derivative. 2. A feeling of depression; despondency. basketball players heard over and over during the Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. National Championships, a tournament presented by the American Roundball Corporation. ``The most common question was, 'Is Simi Valley a big basketball city?' '' Okamoto said. ``No, it's not.'' A look at the results and one might think otherwise. The Blue Devils opened the tournament two weeks ago with five consecutive victories, by an average of 11 points, before losing in the title game, 75-69 to Team Maryland Maryland (mâr`ələnd), one of the Middle Atlantic states of the United States. It is bounded by Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean (E), the District of Columbia (S), Virginia and West Virginia (S, W), and Pennsylvania (N). , a group of All-Stars from the Baltimore Baltimore, city (1990 pop. 736,014), N central Md., surrounded by but politically independent of Baltimore co., on the Patapsco River estuary, an arm of Chesapeake Bay; inc. 1745. area. ``Everyone was doubting us,'' Simi Valley captain Brandon Smith Brandon James Smith (born February 10, 1986) is a Canadian Professional Wrestler, who wrestles as "Epic" Arick Idle on the Atlantic Canadian Independent Circuit. Brandon grew up as a fan of wrestling, yet never imagined he would one day become a wrestler. While attending St. said. ``Most of the teams had huge, 6-foot-5 players who were great. And here we were ... the little kids from Simi Valley.'' Success wasn't a surprise, considering most of the Blue Devils players have been teammates for the better part of teh past four years. Two years ago, the team finished second in its age group in the same tournament. ``We knew we were a good team. We don't get intimidated in·tim·i·date tr.v. in·tim·i·dat·ed, in·tim·i·dat·ing, in·tim·i·dates 1. To make timid; fill with fear. 2. To coerce or inhibit by or as if by threats. easily,'' Okamoto said. ``We were in Las Vegas to win games. We sent a couple of teams home early and in tears. They thought they were going to smash us.'' The Blue Devils closed out ARC summer-league tournament play last week by defeating Brotherhood Crusade of Pasadena 55-38 in the semifinals, then taking home the title with a 60-42 victory over Desert Heat of Palmdale. It's the end of the Blue Devils, who now will turn their attention toward high school basketball. ``This was a great environment for all of us to be in,'' point guard Kevin Tran said. ``We learned the fundamentals and teammwork. ``Our coach taught us a lot about basketball and life. I made some great friends, too. This grew in to something big. It exceeded my expectations.'' Sean Ceglinsky, (818) 713-3607 sean.ceglinsky(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): box Box: BOYS OF SUMMER |
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