Simi Valley Beats Fairfax to Sweep City

Too bad Simi Valley High doesn’t play in the City Section.

For the second time in three days, the Pioneers defeated a strong City boys’ basketball team, holding on Monday for a 64-61 victory over Fairfax in the Nike Dream Classic at Pauley Pavilion.

Simi Valley (17-2) lost a 17-point lead, but escaped when Joe Shipp missed a last-second three-point shot for Fairfax (13-5).

The Pioneers, ranked No. 1 in Southern Section Division I-A, beat Sylmar, 81-66, at the Double Pump Hoop Challenge on Saturday.

In an effort to beef up its schedule this season, Simi Valley entered two prestigious tournaments--the Great Florida Shootout and the Nike Holiday Classic--and two one-day invitationals.

“We wanted to go out and play the best so we’d be prepared when playoffs roll around,” Coach Dean Bradshaw said. “Our guys have answered the bell. I’m really pleased with them.”

Bradshaw must have been delighted when the Pioneers took leads of 13-0 and 21-4 en route to dominating the first quarter, when they made 10 of 12 shots and outrebounded Fairfax, 7-1.

But Simi Valley slipped in the second half, making only eight of 23 shots (34.8%).

The Pioneers never lost the lead, though the game was almost sent into overtime by Shipp, whose desperation three-point attempt hit the front of the rim and bounced away.

“This is hard,” Shipp said. “We knew we had a chance. It just didn’t work out.”

Shipp, who is considering USC, Oregon State and Pepperdine, finished with 21 points.

Brett Michel guarded Shipp for most of the game and helped hold him scoreless in the first quarter.

“I knew I had to step it up,” said Michel, who had 15 points and 10 rebounds. “We tried to limit [Shipp] as much as we could.”

Simi Valley center Rafael Berumen had 22 points, nine in the first quarter, and 11 rebounds. Branduinn Fullove added 17 points.