BOYS' BASKETBALL: SIMI VALLEY'S IMPROBABLE RUN FALLS SHORT MARINA 47, SIMI VALLEY 43.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

In the end, the Simi Valley High boys' basketball team simply ran out of surprises. After two weeks of upsets to reach the Southern Section Div. I-A semifinals , the Pioneers couldn't muster one final step to complete their improbable journey to the finals, done in by some badly timed cold shooting and just enough offense by Marina of Huntington Beach in a 47-43 loss Tuesday night at Edison High.

Just as the Pioneers (21-9) have done this entire playoff tournament, they made a gallant run, closing to within 45-43 with 36 seconds remaining on a long jumper and a 3-pointer from Evan Richardson. But Marina's Stephen Baker sank two pressure free throws with 14 seconds to make it 47-43, and Simi Valley could not convert on a desperation 3-pointer from Mark Wells as time expired.

``We have nothing to be ashamed about, we left everything we had out on the floor and tonight we just came up short,'' said Simi Valley forward John Schock, who finished with a team-high 18 points.

``We played hard, but so did they. They played just a little bit better then we did and they deserved to win.''

Schock was the only Simi Valley player to reach double figures. Wells, the team's leading scorer, managed just six points.

Marina (24-3) is in the finals for the first time since 1991 when Cherokee Parks and the Vikings upset top-seeded Mater Dei of Santa Ana in the semifinals, then lost to Santa Barbara in the championship game. Marina faces Mission Viejo, which beat Saugus 48-45 in the other semifinal, in the championship game.

``We always felt we had this in us, we just felt if we could put together a run and use our athletic ability we'd have just as good a shot at reaching the final as anyone else,'' said Marina guard James Lambert. ``We got hot at the right time of the season, and that's what you're always looking to do going into the playoffs.''

The two teams embodied the unpredictable Div. I-A playoffs, both rising from third-place league finishes to advance to the semifinals. In fact, none of the final four teams in the division were seeded at the beginning of the tournament, each pulling off major upsets to form an unlikely group of potential finalists.

A month ago Simi Valley was left for dead, having lost three of four Marmonte League games to fall out of contention for the league title and losing promising forward Mike Rodgers to grades.

The midseason slump left Simi Valley dazed and confused, but the Pioneers finally decided what's done is done and re-focused their attention on the postseason, rallying to win their final three league games to find a groove heading into the playoffs.

Not that anyone could have figured on this kind of run. But after victories over Pacific League champion Crescenta Valley of La Crescenta, third-seeded Glendora and Foothill League champion Hart of Newhall, the Pioneers looked up and found themselves in the semifinals.

``It was a heck of a run,'' Schock said.

All along, Simi Valley coach Christian Aurand reminded his players about the 1993 Pioneers team that brushed off a third-place league finish to make a stunning run to the championship game. That season ended in an overtime loss to Jordan of Long Beach in the final.

This one just ended a round earlier.

Simi Valley had control for most of the first half, freeing up Schock for 10 points to first open a 9-3 lead in the first quarter then a 17-11 advantage midway through the second.

But Marina turned things around with a 12-2 run late in the second quarter, getting two 3-pointers from Matt Molino and two baskets from Lambert to take a 25-23 lead at intermission.

Marina opened a 37-28 lead midway through the third quarter and appeared on the verge of breaking the game open, but baskets by Schock and Wells got it back to within 37-32 heading into the fourth quarter.

Marina maintained that advantage for most of the fourth quarter, but then Richardson got hot to cut the lead to 45-43.

``Fortunately we were able to knock down those free throws and give ourselves a cushion,'' Lambert said. ``Now we need just one more win.''

Vincent Bonsignore, [phone]

vincent.bonsignore(at)dailynews.com