Cajon’s “credibility” takes a hit with latest lack of insight

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Cajon Coach Mark Lehman sent an e-mail explaining that he had requested a game against A.B. Miller in the Ayala Extravaganza to be played Jan. 19. He went on to explain that tournament director, Mel Sims, ‘told me the Miller coach didn’t want to play us. This has been a problem in the Inland Empire as many coaches don’t want to play good teams.’

Lehman’s quote -- using Miller and its coach, Mel Wilkins -- as an example of IE coaches not wanting to play good teams, is laughable. Top-ranked Miller has to date played six games against teams that have been ranked in The Times’ top 25 (same as Cajon) including No. 3 Redondo and No. 4 Muir.

No. 16 Cajon has for years avoided stepping out of its comfort zone. I first suggested to Lehman that he should step up his schedule to bring credibility to his school and the prolific scoring numbers put up by Jessica Fisiikava either her junior (or senior) year. Specifically, I asked if he was going to ‘step up your schedule next year.’ He gave a noncommittal answer. That was 2002 (or 2003). Yet this is the first year that Cajon has made a concerted effort ‘to play good teams.’

After running up scoring records against overmatched opponents in previous seasons, in my mind, the program’s credibility is at an all-time high because it has stepped outside its little cocoon of dominance. For this, Cajon and Lehman are to be commended.

However, this reminds me of the boxer who can’t get a fight with the champion so he does everything he can to try to goad or embarrass the champ into taking him on. Wasn’t that a subplot in ‘Rocky V’? Cajon calling out IE teams for playing soft schedules is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

Cajon had an opportunity to face Miller at the Best of the West tournament, but failed to beat one of those ‘good teams,’ and lost, 80-64, to Bishop Amat. In the next round, Miller beat Amat, 54-52.

At the Ayala Extravaganza, instead of facing Miller, Cajon is matched against No. 15 Marlborough, pending approval of both coaches. This is a great matchup, pitting two terrific posts and guards against each other -- Talia Caldwell and Nikki Speed of Marlborough, and Darshae Burnside and Layshia Clarendon of Cajon. It’s actually much more attractive than a Miller-Cajon game.

Wilkins didn’t want to play Cajon because he wanted to play a team with an even higher profile right now, No. 5 Long Beach Millikan, which on Monday defeated then-No. 1 Long Beach Poly.

That is not an example of avoiding good teams. Frankly, there are more good teams out there than just Cajon.

-- Martin Henderson