Cherokee Jam: A Marina Treat
Sights not seen every day in Orange County:
Fans being turned away by the hundreds--yes, Bill Mulligan, hundreds--at the doors before a basketball game at the Bren Center.
Cherokee Parks stepping to the mid-court circle for the game-opening tipoff and being asked his name by one of the referees. Twice.
A cheerleading priest, armed with red pompon, roaming the sidelines while perched, piggyback, on the shoulders of a guy in a lion suit.
Mater Dei losing a basketball playoff game before the Southern Section finals.
It all happened Tuesday night, the clincher being provided by one of the most everyday sights ever seen in Orange County:
The Cherokee Parks Thunder-Clap, Captain-Crunch, Ain’t-No-Fluke-I’m-Headin’-For-Duke Monster Jam.
It’s the best play in the Marina High School playbook, a pretty decent percentage shot. Cherokee sees ball, Cherokee gets ball, Cherokee slams ball through hoop, chipping paint off the baseline below.
Only no one had ever seen so many in so short of time.
Cherokee had eight of them during Marina’s 64-55 upset of Mater Dei in the Division I-A semifinals--five in the second half and three rim-benders, dynasty-enders, after being whistled for an offensive foul late in the third quarter.
It might go down as the worst call in Mater Dei basketball history. At the time, Gary McKnight’s 25-4 Monarchs were leading, 41-36, with 1 minute 44 seconds left in the third period. Cherokee looked tired, the weight of carrying one basketball program for four years starting to buckle him at the knees.
Then came the whistle as Cherokee went up for a rebound. Pushing off was the call.
Cherokee couldn’t believe it. The face that is sometimes seen, sometimes not, under his shaggy-dog brown bangs burned bright red. Over on the Mater Dei bench, McKnight cringed.
He knew a cardinal rule of Southland prep basketball had just been breached.
You don’t rile The Chief.
“That got him fired up, no question,” said a delighted Marina Coach Steve Popovich, who knew what was coming next. “He’d missed a few shots, been hit with a couple traveling calls and then came the foul.
“He played big-time after that. And that’s what it took to beat this team.”
The next time down the court, Cherokee got the ball and kept it maybe one nanosecond. Tomahawk jam, spring-loaded breakaway rim groaning, and the Vikings are within three.
The next time Cherokee gets the ball, Marina is down by one and into the fourth quarter. Slam No. 7. And a foul. Cherokee converts the three-point play and Marina has the lead, 46-44.
Soon, the Vikings will have it for good, just as soon as Marina point guard Tim Pham gets off his back, scoops up a runaway loose ball and bats it toward Cherokee’s high-tops. Garbage never looked like this--a dig and a dunk by Cherokee and the Vikings’ run into the Division I-A final is officially fuel-injected.
For the record, Cherokee himself lost count of his jams. “Whatever it takes to win, whatever it takes to win,” he said. He did, however, remember the official’s call that sent the final three home. “When they get you when you don’t think you’ve fouled anyone, especially in that situation, it gets you into it,” he said. “It gets you pumped up and then the other team gets pumped up and that pumps you up even more.”
That sounds like it has TV commercial potential: Cherokee Parks, for The Pump.
Eight dunks translated into 30 points, which translated into one trip to the Los Angeles Sports Arena Saturday night. There, Marina will make its first appearance in a Southern Section final since 1975 and Rich Branning.
“I’ve never been to the finals before, not even to watch,” Cherokee said. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I’m kind of in awe right now.”
He wasn’t alone. Mulligan had a seat in the Bren Center Tuesday night--he apparently was curious to see how the place looked filled--and proclaimed Cherokee ready, not for Duke but for the NBA.
“I’ve been saying that since he was a sophomore,” Mulligan said. “Last summer, (Arizona State Coach Bill) Frieder came by, recruiting him, and I told him, ‘You’re wasting your time, he’s going to the pros.’ ”
Oh that Mulligan. Always the kidder.
“Defensively, he’s there already,” he insisted. “He’s just so intimidating. Offensively, he still needs some work. He still could improve his skills around the basket.”
Mulligan said this before Tuesday’s game. Eight dunks later, Cherokee Parks wasn’t ready for the Clippers. But he was headed to the place where the Clippers play.