SCOUTING THE 4--A FINALISTS: A LOOK AT CLEVELAND AND SIMI VALLEY

O n January 31, Camarillo High’s basketball team defeated Simi Valley, 42-40. It was the Pioneers’ only loss in the Marmonte League this season. Camarillo Coach John Harbour explains the game plan he used against Simi Valley and what he expects to see in Saturday’s Southern Section 4-A final between Simi Valley and Muir:

“We had to do what was best for our personnel when we played Simi in that second meeting. We had to try the zone early. We were lucky to get the lead and control the tempo of the game. We weren’t delaying, but every time they showed zone we made sure they knew they had to come out of it.

“That’s the key. You’ve got to get ahead of Simi and try to dictate the pace. You have to keep them under pressure and not let them get loose. I mean, against Capistrano Valley, Simi got loose and that was it.

“What we tried to do was make them play man-to-man defense. Our team was particularly troubled by zone defenses and toward the end of the season we had to try and make teams play man-to-man to be competitive.”

“When we beat them, we decided we were going to take our chances and foul them late in the game. Right now that wouldn’t be a very good a strategy because they’re shooting free throws so well.

“Don MacLean and Shawn DeLaittre are both playing very well. The thing that impresses me about MacLean is his rebounding. I think the whole key to that boy is the job Bob Hawking has done convincing him that rebounding is very, very important. You see a lot of kids his size that can shoot as well as he does, but they don’t think rebounding is real important. He’s a very good player and he’s being coached in the right way for him. His coach is helping to make him into a complete player.

“We had a kid named Mike Biggs who did a good job on DeLaittre. But, watching him play against Capistrano Valley in the semifinals, well, he just didn’t play that way against us.

“I haven’t seen Muir this season, but they’ll probably just do the things they’ve done all year and not really be concerned with anything other than some defensive adjustments. They’ve come pretty far. I imagine they figure they’re good enough to win the game.

“Simi has a lot of kids that have contributed. They’ve got two or three kids that have come off the bench and done a real nice job playing with a lot of confidence. When you’re coming off the bench and playing at this level you have to believe in yourself.”