SIMI IS FACING TOUGH SCHEDULE; COACH LOOKS AHEAD TO PLAYOFFS.Byline: Jim Inghram Daily News Staff Writer By the time 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. begins Marmonte League The Marmonte League is a high school sports league primarily made up of schools from Ventura County. The Marmonte Leauge is part of the CIF Southern Section. Click here to view the league schedule. play in January, the Pioneers will have traveled across the continent and up and down the state to take on some of the nation's finest teams. Coach Dean Bradshaw has come up with a schedule that will pose many challenges as well as ensure the Pioneers are tested and ready come playoff time. ``I think we're going to have as tough a schedule as you can get,'' Bradshaw said. ``There are going to be some bumps along the way, but it will help us become a better team.'' It all starts in the Simi Valley Tip-Off Classic on Dec. 1. The Pioneers face Roosevelt High of East Los Angeles East Los Angeles, uninc. city (1990 pop. 126,379), Los Angeles co., S Calif., a residential suburb of Los Angeles, in an industrial area. It has a large Mexican-American population. There is a performing arts center and a cultural center. A junior college is there. in the first round, but potential matchups loom with Grant, Notre Dame Notre Dame IPA: [nɔtʁ dam] is French for Our Lady, referring to the Virgin Mary. In the United States of America, Notre Dame and Oxnard's Santa Clara Santa Clara, city, Cuba Santa Clara (sän`tä klä`rä), city (1994 est. pop. 217,000), capital of Villa Clara prov., central Cuba. . Simi Valley has won the tournament the past four years. The Pioneers will also be in two national tournaments during the winter break. The team will play in the Great Florida Shootout Shootout Venture capital jargon. Refers to two or more venture capital firms fighting for the startup. in Kissimee, Fla. from Dec. 17-24 and the Nike Holiday Classic in 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. from Dec. 26-31. Several talented teams from the East will be in Florida, including Pleasure Ridge Park Pleasure Ridge Park, uninc. town (1990 pop. 25,131), Jefferson co., N Ky. It is a residential suburb of Louisville. from Louisville, Ky. Maryland's St. John's at Prospect Hall, L.A. City section power Crenshaw cren·shaw also cran·shaw n. A variety of winter melon (Cucumis melo var. inodorus) having a greenish-yellow rind and sweet, usually salmon-pink flesh. [Origin unknown.] and Dominguez of Compton will be in San Diego. ``It's going to be a huge challenge,'' Bradshaw said, ``but we're excited.'' The competition will not end there. Following the first four league games, three of which will be on the road, the Pioneers will take part in two Martin Luther King Day Tournaments. The first, on Saturday, Jan. 16, will be at Cal State Dominguez Hills against Sylmar, last season's L.A. City 3A Champion. The second, on Monday, Jan. 18, has Simi Valley playing perennial City Section power Fairfax at UCLA's 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. . The schedule will be demanding, but with four returning starters and a solid group of newcomers, the Pioneers will be one of the better teams in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, . The best of the returning players is 6-foot-9 Rafael Berumen. The talented senior signed a letter of intent with New Mexico New Mexico, state in the SW United States. At its northwestern corner are the so-called Four Corners, where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah meet at right angles; New Mexico is also bordered by Oklahoma (NE), Texas (E, S), and Mexico (S). and is versatile enough to play the post or roam outside to the perimeter. Berumen is listed among the top 100 players in the nation in several recruiting publications. ``This is Rafael's senior year and we're expecting him to have a really terrific season,'' Bradshaw said. Joining Berumen in the front court are 6-6 junior Bret Michel and 6-8 sophomore Dustin Villepigue. Michel has lost about 10 pounds and increased his strength through a vigorous offseason conditioning program. Bradshaw feels the player is primed for a breakout season. Villepigue was on the junior varsity as a freshman and has grown about four inches since last season. ``He gives us some height and he has a nice touch,'' Bradshaw said. ``He's going to be the surprise player of the Marmonte League.'' Villepigue will likely come off the bench, but might get some starts later in the season. The back court is headed by two-guard Branduinn Fullove and point guard Shaun Michel, Bret's brother. Fullove, a 6-5 junior, poses severe matchup problems for opponents, is an excellent three-point shooter and is proficient at driving to the basket. Michel, a 6-2 sophomore, added 15 pounds of muscle during the offseason and should not have any problems running the Pioneers' offense. Michel started several games as a freshman and that experience will benefit him greatly in 1998-99. ``Shaun has really grown and matured,'' Bradshaw said. ``There is no reason he shouldn't have a solid season.'' Bradshaw said four players are battling for the final starting position and the competition should be intense. Among those vying for the spot are Calvin Bell (6-3), Tony Ward (6-1), Ben Williams (6-1) and Anish Sharda (6-2). The three who don't open as the starter will provide needed depth for the Pioneers, who took a hit in that department when 6-4 Kurt Mjoen elected not to play this season and part-time starting guard Branden Foster transferred to Royal. ``We're very honored to be in the tournaments that we will play in,'' Bradshaw said. ``The tournament organizers take care of everything so there's no cost to our kids or program. It's going to be an exciting season and we can't wait for it to get started.'' |
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