Simi Valley Dominance Is No Fluke

That was no fluke when Simi Valley High defeated Newbury Park by 30 points three weeks ago.

The Pioneers did it again Friday night at Simi Valley, pounding Newbury Park, 94-64, to remove what little drama remained in the Marmonte League boys’ basketball race.

Simi Valley (21-2, 8-0 in league play), ranked No. 1 in The Times’ regional poll, moved two games ahead of the defending champion Panthers (14-5, 6-2) with four games to play.

For Simi Valley, more impressive than a season sweep over its most-formidable league opponent was the dominance and balance the Pioneers displayed.

Simi Valley led, 9-1, when Newbury Park took its first timeout. With Branduinn Fullove’s short jump shot moments later, the Pioneers had a 13-4 lead and every starter had scored.

The lead grew and stayed that way. When it was over, Brett Michel led Simi Valley with 25 points. Fullove and Dustin Villepigue each had 20. Point guard Shaun Michel had eight assists.

“We didn’t want to come out and look lackadaisical,” said Brett Michel, whose three three-point baskets gave him nine in two games. “The playoffs are coming up and we want to be sharp. My little brother has been making some great passes.”

Center Rafael Berumen finished with nine points and eight rebounds before fouling out with four minutes to play. Berumen made five of six free throws in the fourth quarter.

“Did we really beat them that bad?” Berumen said. “Seems like it’s always them and Simi in this league. They’re more of a rival than Royal or Thousand Oaks.”

Dean Bradshaw, coach of Simi Valley, said the Pioneers, winners of 10 in a row, might be peaking at the right time.

“I told the guys we’re not 30 points better than them,” Bradshaw said. “But hopefully we’ll continue to play well together.”

Simi Valley put the game away in the second quarter, when Brett Michel made all three of his three-pointers and had 15 points. Michel’s three-pointer with three seconds left made it 46-24 at the half.

Michel made a school-record six three-pointers in six tries Wednesday against Moorpark.

Brian Bobik provided a spark for Newbury Park, scoring eight points in the first quarter and finishing with 17.

But after the game, Bobik was visibly defeated.

“We came out on the floor and played hard,” Bobik said. “It’s frustrating to lose like that. But they have so many great athletes. They’re a good team.”

Frustration for Newbury Park boiled over in the fourth quarter when Ken Barone, an assistant coach, received a technical foul and was ejected.