Berumen Stood Ground in Middle

Ask Simi Valley High boys’ basketball Coach Dean Bradshaw about the most impressive game played by Rafael Berumen and, strange as it may seem, he’ll point to a Pioneer loss.

Berumen, a 6-foot-8 sophomore center, was dominant in the Marmonte League, where the next two best post players--Newbury Park’s 6-9 Jim Newton and Royal’s 6-5 Ryan Nielsen--were better known for their football skills.

Although Simi Valley fared well in nonleague competition, winning the Simi Valley and Hart tournaments, the Pioneers didn’t face many top-notch centers.

Which is why Bradshaw relished the opportunity for Berumen to play against Long Beach Poly’s Richard Anderson, one of the outstanding junior centers in the state, in a Southern Section I-AA quarterfinal game.

Although Simi Valley lost to the top-seeded Jackrabbits, 59-54, in overtime, Berumen scored 26 points and held Anderson to 10.

“Rafael really acclimated himself pretty well,” Bradshaw said. “And there were a lot of [college] scouts watching him.”

Berumen, who averaged 23.3 points, is The Times’ Ventura County player of the year, the second consecutive Simi Valley player so honored. Former Pioneer center Pero Vasiljevic received the award last year.

A transfer from Pomona High, Berumen started on the Devils’ varsity team as a freshman, averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds on an experienced team.

“Playing with all the seniors helped me a lot,” Berumen said.

Berumen said his parents wanted to get away from gangs in Pomona, prompting a move to Simi Valley last summer.

Not much fazed Berumen in his first season at Simi Valley.

He led an inexperienced team, which included freshmen forwards Branduinn Fullove and Brett Michel, to a share of the league title. Berumen already had played with Fullove and Michel on a club team.

Berumen showed toughness in a first-round playoff game, scoring 40 points in a 103-80 victory over Highland despite having flu.

“I’m already excited for next year,” Berumen said. “We should have won that last game, and who knows how far we could have gone? Maybe next year we’ll find out.”