MacLean Provides the Spark to Ignite Simi Valley, 86-63

One night after Simi Valley High proved it could play with one of the nation’s best basketball teams, it showed it still could manhandle an ordinary one.

Fighting predictable listlessness early in Tuesday’s game, Simi Valley defeated Socastee of Myrtle Beach, 86-63, in the consolation semifinals of the Beach Ball Classic.

It was no secret that Socastee (1-3) participated in the elite tournament because it passed out the invitations, provided the gym and brought the basketballs; the Braves start one senior and have only one real scoring threat.

Simi Valley, on the other hand, is on the fringe of national recognition with three players who can score and a bench that got longer Tuesday.

The Pioneers’ Don MacLean scored 15 points in the first quarter, 31 for the game and had 18 rebounds. The 6-10 All-American center’s rebound total was one short of the tournament record, set Monday by DeMatha’s Jerrod Mustaf.

MacLean’s early domination appeared to lift the intensity level of his teammates.

“There was no motivation before the game,” MacLean said, “but once the game got going and we weren’t blowing them out we started to play.”

Socastee helped by scoring just five points in the second quarter after trailing, 24-19, at the end of the opening period. Simi Valley scored the first 12 points of the second quarter, including six by 6-5 swingman Shawn DeLaittre, who scored inside and from the perimeter.

“My post moves were really effective tonight,” said DeLaittre, who finished with 22 points. “I was working on them last night in my bedroom.”

DeLaittre made the transition from the bed post to the high post, making 11 of 16 field-goal attempts.

“We know we can play with anybody now,” he said, referring to Simi Valley’s one-point loss Monday to highly regarded Hillcrest of Simpsonville, S. C. “It’s such a compliment to come out here and play. I think we proved that last night.”

Simi Valley’s defeat looked more impressive Tuesday after Hillcrest ripped DeMatha of Hyattsville, Md., 84-68, to advance to the final against Archbishop Molloy of Jamaica, N.Y., which defeated Eau Claire of Columbia, S.C., 77-60. DeMatha plays Eau Claire for third place today.

Simi Valley (9-2) has another chance to beat a ranked team today, when it plays Clay County, of Manchester, Ky., in the consolation championship. The Tigers, ranked No. 24 in a national poll, lost one starter from their state championship team of last season.

Clay County is the kind of team Simi Valley came to play: skilled and schooled. But to earn that chance, Simi Valley Coach Bob Hawking had to prod the Pioneers past pesky Socastee. Neal Chestnut scored 32 points for the Braves, but they were soundly beaten on the boards, 41-29.

Socastee shot just 35.5% from the field; the Pioneers made 51%.

“That’s what we had to do,” Hawking said. “I was pleased with the way we came out tonight. It would have been easy to sulk through it.”

Instead, Simi Valley waltzed. MacLean made 5 of his first 6 shots and had two early blocks.

“Don MacLean is a great player,” Socastee Coach Dan D’Antoni said. “And he’s going to be a great college player. He’s going to make somebody look like a great coach.”

Simi Valley’s reserves kept the Braves down. Steve Barlow and John Hodges each scored seven points in eight and 10 minutes, respectively. Chris Wright, just 5 feet, 3 inches tall, played 10 minutes in relief of point guard Butch Hawking and had three assists. Starters Hawking and Darren Aurand each scored six points.