Simi Valley Growing Up Fast

After a 5-0 start, the Simi Valley High boys’ basketball team finally faced adversity Wednesday night.

The Pioneers, who start two freshmen and two sophomores, experienced some growing pains but were able to hold off Channel Islands for a 54-51 victory in a Marmonte League opener at Channel Islands.

Simi Valley (6-0, 1-0) led, 39-22, late in the third quarter but the Raiders used a 14-0 run to tie the score, 48-48, with 1:22 to play.

After two free throws by Simi Valley freshman forward Brett Michel and a twisting layup by Charles Merricks of Channel Islands, the Pioneers broke the press and found Michel for a layup and a 52-50 lead with 25 seconds left.

Merricks was fouled with 11 seconds left but made only one of two free throws. The Raiders (6-1, 0-1) fouled sophomore center Rafael Berumen, who made both free throws with 9.8 seconds left.

“I wasn’t nervous at all,” Berumen said. “I felt really comfortable.”

Trailing, 54-51, Bernabe Simon of Channel Islands got a good look at the basket but his three-point shot bounced off the rim as time expired.

“This was something we needed--to be on the road and get in this kind of situation,” said Simi Valley Coach Dean Bradshaw.

The Pioneers had trouble against the full-court press. After consistently beating the press for three quarters, Simi Valley had five turnovers in the fourth quarter.

The 6-foot-8 Berumen was a force inside, scoring 20 points and grabbing 19 rebounds. Michel added 18 points and point guard Ronnie Noel had nine points and eight assists.

Reserve sophomore Dwight Sattiewhite scored 17 points for Channel Islands. Merricks and O.J. Thomas each scored 13.

Simon, the Raiders’ leading scorer with a 20-point average, was held to two through three quarters. But he hit two three-point baskets in the fourth quarter and finished with eight.

“We’ve seen Simon three or four times last week and we knew he was a great shooter and would get some eventually,” Bradshaw said.

Neither team started well. The game was scoreless for more than four minutes as the teams missed the first 16 shots.

Berumen finally scored on a rebound with 3:42 left in the quarter.

In other Marmonte League games:

Thousand Oaks 66, Westlake 56--Joe Riccio had 20 points and Josh Armour added 14 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Lancers (5-3, 1-0) at Thousand Oaks.

Drew Stewart had 16 points for Westlake (4-3, 0-1).

The Lancers took a 21-13 lead in the first quarter and extended it to 30-15 behind Charles Soodovar, who finished with 10 points.

Thousand Oaks made 28 of 40 free throws, and Westlake made 25 of 31.

Camarillo 39, Royal 34--Joe Borchard scored 14 points and Justin Beach added 13 for the Scorpions (4-2, 1-0) at Camarillo. Ryan Nielsen scored 14 points for Royal (5-4, 0-1).

Newbury Park 50, Agoura 46--Brothers Daniel and Brian Bobik paced the Panthers at Newbury Park. Daniel had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Brian added nine points for the Panthers (5-4, 1-0). Marcus Helfman scored 19 points for Agoura (1-4, 0-1).