MLK TOURNAMENT: SIMI VALLEY FINDS ITS SHOWCASE.Byline: Jim Inghram Daily News Staff Writer Last season 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. could only watch at the Martin Luther King Dream Classic at Pauley Pavilion Edwin W. Pauley Pavilion, informally and commonly known as Pauley Pavilion, is an indoor arena located on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles, California. It is home to the UCLA Bruins men's and women's basketball teams. The men's and women's volleyball teams also play here. . A scheduling conflict denied the Pioneers, who were invited to participate, a chance to play. The team showed up en masse en masse adv. In one group or body; all together: The protesters marched en masse to the capitol. [French : en, in + masse, mass. anyway, to scout possible opponents and get a feel for the tournament. This season the Marmonte League's downsizing (1) Converting mainframe and mini-based systems to client/server LANs. (2) To reduce equipment and associated costs by switching to a less-expensive system. (jargon) downsizing to seven teams gave the Pioneers two extra nonleague games and the team used one to play Sylmar at Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday and the other to play in the fifth Dream Classic at UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX on Monday. ``We really wanted to play last season,'' Simi Valley coach Dean Bradshaw said. ``We couldn't because you can only play so many nonleague games. The reason we elected to play this time was we wanted to upgrade our schedule as much as possible to get ourselves ready for the playoffs and to be part of what has become a great one-day event one-day event a contraction of the three-day event but like that contest is aimed at selecting the best all-round horse and rider. The events usually contested are show-jumping, dressage and cross-country. .'' Simi Valley's opponent, Fairfax, is one of the better teams in the City Section and has two Division I recruits in Joe Shipp, a 6-foot-6 forward, and Jason Morrissette, a 6-4 guard. The Pioneers (17-2) streaked to a 13-0 lead in the first four minutes and held a 21-4 lead with 1:28 left in the first quarter on their way to a 64-61 victory over the Lions. ``We were excited to play this year,'' sophomore guard Shaun Michel said. ``It was tough sitting around and watching last year. We know we can play with the best teams and this shows people we are capable of doing that.'' Said Rafael Berumen, who earned player of the game honors with 22 points and 12 rebounds: ``This is a pretty big event and it was another chance for us to prove that Simi Valley can play basketball. Fairfax is a powerhouse and a very good team. I know a lot of people were probably thinking `Simi who?,' but we know we are a good team and I think we've proved that.'' The victory should solidify the Pioneers' top ranking in the Southern Section's Division I. Fairfax, although smaller at most positions, gave the Pioneers a glimpse of the quickness and up-tempo style of play they will likely face in the playoffs. ``Fairfax is outstanding,'' Bradshaw said. ``They are a quality team and (Fairfax coach) Harvey (Kitani) has been there a long time. He has coached some great players, Chris Mills For the Chicago singer-songwriter, see . Christopher Lemonte Mills (born on January 25, 1970 in Los Angeles, California) is an American former professional basketball player. and Sean Higgins See also Shaun Higgins. Sean Marielle Higgins (born December 30 1968, in Los Angeles, California) is an American professional basketball player currently on the Albany Patroons of the CBA. and it was good for us to get a victory against them.'' Simi Valley's quick start, which led to a double-figure lead throughout the first quarter, propelled the team to the victory. Fairfax kept shaving points off the lead and got as close as two points several times in the fourth quarter, but each time Simi Valley was able to keep the Lions from tying it. The Lions (15-5) were within two at 63-61 with 1:17 left, but Brett Michel converted the front end of a one-and-one with 15.1 seconds to provide the final margin. Fairfax's Shipp, who had 21 points, missed a 3-point shot at the buzzer that could have sent the game into overtime. ``I think we accomplished what we set out to do,'' Bradshaw said. ``Our kids have answered the bell. We've played some outstanding teams in Florida and San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. and these last two. We figured we could have seven or eight losses by this point in the season, but we only have two and we should only have one.'' It's been a familiar theme for the Pioneers in 1998-99, spectators to victors. Now they have one more month of victories to get to where they really want to be: Southern Section champions. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Simi Valley's Brett Michel (32) looks to pass against Fairfax's Jodeph Shipp during Monday's game in the MLK MLK Martin Luther King MLK Milk MLK Medialess License Kit Tournament. Phil McCarten/Daily News |
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