Santa Clara Makes Run but Simi Valley Wins

Rafael Berumen scored 33 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Simi Valley High defeated Santa Clara, 82-76, to win the Simi Valley tournament Saturday night.

Simi Valley (4-0), which trailed by 12 points late in the first half, caught Santa Clara, 51-51, with 2:15 to go in the third quarter after a 22-14 scoring run.

The Pioneers gained a six-point lead but Santa Clara (3-1) pulled to within 70-67 with four minutes to play on a basket by Nick Jones before the Pioneers pulled away for good.

Berumen scored 15 points in the first half for the Pioneers, but B.J. Ward countered with 14 points for Santa Clara and the Saints built a 36-24 advantage near the end of the second quarter.

Santa Clara held a 37-28 lead at halftime.

The Pioneers rebounded in the second half behind Berumen and Branduinn Fullove, who had 16 of his 20 points in the final two quarters.

Fullove had nine points and Berumen eight in the third quarter, when the Pioneers outscored the Saints, 30-16.

“It was a great high school game,” said Coach Dean Bradshaw of Simi Valley. “Give lots of credit to Santa Clara.”

Ward finished with 24 points and Jones had 21 for Santa Clara.