SOLVING THE PUZZLE AT SIMI VALLEY.

Byline: VINCENT BONSIGNORE / Local

This wasn't what the Simi Valley High boys' basketball team had in mind back in November.

The Pioneers expected to explode into the Southern Section playoffs, Marmonte League championship in hand, confidence soaring.

Instead, they'll limp into Friday's Division I-AA first round after losing two of their final three games and finishing a disappointing second behind Newbury Park.

What went wrong? How did a team that looked so spectacular most of the season suddenly become so ordinary?

And how can a team that many considered favorites to reach the Southern Section semifinals - if not the final - fail to close out its own league championship?

More importantly, can Simi Valley rediscover the aura of invincibility it once had in time to make a run at its first section title in more than a decade?

First things first. You can argue that every team suffers a letdown at some point in the season. Maybe the Pioneers (22-5) are simply the victims of poor timing, going through their slump in February instead of December.

Good point. Wishful thinking.

Championship teams answer their questions early, then find a groove at the end of the year.

Make no mistake, the Pioneers, seeded fourth in the playoffs behind Long Beach Poly, Artesia and Etiwanda, have some problems.

Center Rafael Berumen is recovering from an elbow injury, but that might be the least of the worries. A glaring lack of production at point guard was apparent in a critical loss to Newbury Park two weeks ago, as was the inexperience of sophomores Branduinn Fullove and Brett Michel.

Fullove and Michel have the ability to bounce back. They're mature beyond their years and they've played in big games throughout their young careers.

The trouble at point guard is more worrisome, and it could determine how far the Pioneers advance.

The position is divided between two players: Freshman Shaun Michel (Bret's brother) and senior Branden Foster.

Michel has a bright future, but as a ninth-grader he might not be ready to guide Simi Valley to the title. He's shown flashes but too many times has been indecisive with his passing and shooting. The talent is there, but the experience isn't.

Foster, a hard worker, is a good defender but no threat offensively.

Simi Valley coach Dean Bradshaw insists he is satisfied with the play of his point guards. Furthermore, he doesn't believe that spot will be the difference between a long or short run in the playoffs.

Bradshaw has contended from the outset that when the Pioneers' talented trio of Fullove, Berumen and Bret Michel are on top of their game and role players Ian Boys, Bryan Zumo and Kurt Mjoen are doing their jobs, Simi Valley can beat any opponent.

He is right. But even Bradshaw realizes the playoffs are about execution, and if the Pioneers are getting uneven performances from Foster and Michel, trouble lies ahead.

Still, there is hope. Berumen has few equals in the low post and has demonstrated he can control a game with his scoring and rebounding.

When things go bad for the Pioneers, they can always feed the ball to their big man and expect production.

Fullove has shown that he can raise his game when needed, too. In an early season tournament in Las Vegas, it was the one-two punch of Fullove and Berumen that led the Pioneers to four wins. Michel, though a little more low key than Fullove and Berumen, can explode at any time.

Bradshaw also points out that aside from a double-digit loss to powerful Washington Union in Las Vegas, Daniel Bobik's brilliant performance in the recent loss to Newbury Park and losing to Agoura without Berumen, Simi Valley is a few seconds and a couple of plays away from losing only two games this year.

``We're definitely not going to hit the panic button,'' Bradshaw said. ``We're looking ahead, not behind us. We're still a good ballclub.''

True. But good enough to play for the section championship? We'll see.

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PHOTO (Color) Simi Valley needs sophomore Branduinn Fullove (33) to elevate his game.

Phil McCarten/Daily News