History in Making

It was barely December, but the holidays came early for Coach Dean Bradshaw of Simi Valley High in 1996.

The annual Simi Valley basketball tournament, usually a place for teams to squeeze in a few games before league play, was more than a dress rehearsal for a new Simi Valley offense.

It was the launch point for Simi Valley center Rafael Berumen.

A sophomore at the time, Berumen scored 39 points in a tournament victory over Alemany. He made 18 of 20 shots, grabbed 10 rebounds, blocked five shots and began to assume his place among the top high school players in Southern California.

Berumen earned his place in the Simi Valley record book this season, scoring a school-record 53 points in a Marmonte League game against Agoura, one day after he consulted a doctor about knee pain.

“It made me feel like I was part of the Pioneer history,” said Berumen, who surpassed the previous record of 52 points set in 1988 by former UCLA standout Don MacLean, who plays for the Seattle SuperSonics.

“For some reason, I went after every loose ball, every rebound. I was pretty tired afterwards.”

In addition, the 6-foot-9 Berumen made a school-record 23 field goals in the game, pulled down 24 rebounds and, dispelling the notion that big men can’t pass, even had four assists.

Performances like that have earned Berumen The Times’ Ventura County player of the year award.

Berumen, who signed with New Mexico, played well in pressure situations, scoring 10 points in the final six minutes of a second-round playoff victory over Fullerton Troy.

He finished with 24 points in that game, days after he scored 23 in a first-round victory over Saugus.

Berumen, who averaged 24.2 points and 11.3 rebounds, guided Simi Valley (28-3) to its first Marmonte League title in the 1990s. In the process, the Pioneers twice routed rival Newbury Park, which had given Simi Valley fits in the past.

With an array of low-post moves and soft hands that he credits to playing quarterback for his eighth-grade flag football team, Berumen was nearly impossible to stop.

“He’s been an outstanding player,” Bradshaw said. “I like the team we have coming back next year, but you don’t lose a player like that and not miss a beat.”

For his part, Berumen says he is prepared for the next challenge. Soon, high school will be in the rear-view mirror.

“I’m ready for New Mexico,” he said. “Ready for the college level now.”

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ALL-VENTURA COUNTY BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Second Team

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Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. F/C Peter Brown Buena Sr. 6-6 G Jake DeGennaro Westlake Sr. 5-9 F Andy Flores Nordhoff Sr. 6-3 G Jacob Galloway Oxnard Sr. 5-10 F/C Mike Kolbeck Santa Paula Sr. 6-3 F Robert Luna Hueneme Sr. 6-0 G Shaun Michel Simi Valley So. 6-2 F Brian Polen Newbury Park Sr. 6-4 F Zach Smith Oak Park Jr. 6-6 G Todd Tomlinson Moorpark Jr. 6-0

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ALL-VALLEY BOYS’ BASKETBALL

First Team

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Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. PLAYER OF THE YEAR G Gilbert Arenas Grant Sr. 6-4 C Scott Borchart Chaminade So. 6-9 G Kent Dennis Cleveland Sr. 6-3 F Nana Gbewonyo Kennedy Sr. 6-4 F Kevin Krose Burroughs Sr. 6-3 G Russell Lakey Harvard-Westlake Jr. 6-0 F Eskias McDaniels Valencia Sr. 6-5 G Devin Montgomery Alemany Sr. 6-0 G T.K. Reed Sylmar Sr. 6-0 F Jeremiah Turner Sylmar Sr. 6-6

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Second Team

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Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. F/C Zareh Avedian Hoover Sr. 6-5 G Cayce Cook Chaminade Sr. 5-9 F Marcin Jagoda Crespi Sr. 6-3 G Glenn Jones Paraclete Sr. 5-10 G Abe Morrabi Van Nuys Sr. 6-2 G Gene Myvett Littlerock Jr. 6-3 G/F Cody Pearson Notre Dame So. 6-3 F/C Brian Smith Cleveland Sr. 6-5 G Jason Tomlin Quartz Hill Sr. 6-1 G/F James Word Poly Sr. 6-3

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