Things Change, Not Simi Valley

Coach Dean Bradshaw is absent from the Simi Valley High sideline for the first time in more than a decade.

Center Rafael Berumen has taken his 1,960 career points and 941 rebounds to the University of New Mexico.

But the Pioneers could again be the dominant boys’ basketball team in the region.

Bradshaw guided Simi Valley to a 215-81 record during the last 11 seasons, but he stepped down from that position in September because he wanted to watch his son, Ryan, play basketball for the Pioneers for the next two years.

The 6-foot-9 Berumen was a three-year starter at Simi Valley, a two-time Ventura County player of the year by The Times. He averaged 24.2 points and 11.3 rebounds last season.

But with four starters--including seniors Branduinn Fullove and Brett Michel--returning from a 28-3 team and longtime assistant Christian Aurand replacing Bradshaw, Simi Valley should be a formidable team.

“We want to win [the Marmonte League championship], do well in the tournaments we play and ultimately, try and win a [Southern Section] title,” said Aurand, 32. “The expectations are always high around here. I’m not afraid of that.”

The 6-foot-5 Fullove and the 6-6 Michel are entering their fourth seasons as starters, but come off contrasting summers.

While Fullove played well and recently signed with UC Santa Barbara, the unsigned Michel was sidelined by a foot injury and is still working his way back into shape.

Aurand wants Simi Valley to turn to both in crunch time.

“You need to rely on your seniors for leadership,” Aurand said. “Those two guys have a lot of experience and need to step up when times are tough.”

Fullove, a guard, averaged 16.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists last season.

Michel, a forward, averaged 17.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists, and made 75 of 154 three-point shots.

Junior point guard Shaun Michel and junior center Dustin Villepigue are the other returning starters for Simi Valley, which has advanced to the semifinals of the Southern Section Division I-AA playoffs in each of the last two years.

Shaun Michel, Brett’s brother, averaged 7.2 points, 8.7 assists and 2.5 steals last season and the 6-9 Villepigue averaged 7.6 points and 6.3 rebounds.

Senior Anish Sharda played sparingly last year, but the 6-1 guard is expected to be Simi Valley’s fifth starter when the Pioneers open against Franklin in a first-round game of their own tournament on Nov. 30.

“He improved tremendously in the off-season,” Aurand said of Sharda. “He just put in a lot of time and it shows.”

A lack of depth, a problem in recent seasons, could be Simi Valley’s Achilles’ heel.

Ryan Bradshaw, a 6-2 junior guard, and Kareem Lacey, a 6-5 senior center who was runner-up in the 400 meters in the Southern Section Division II track and field finals in May, are two first-year varsity players who could give Simi Valley a boost with quality seasons.

Without its coach and leading scorer from last season, Simi Valley will have a little bit of a different look. Aurand promises to emphasize a strong work ethic.

“We’ll do some things differently,” he said. “But that will remain. We’ll continue to work hard.”

GONE

DEAN BRADSHAW

11 seasons

Record: 215-81

*

RAFAEL BERUMEN

1,960 career points

941 career rebounds

STILL AROUND

SENIOR BRANDUINN FULLOVE

SENIOR BRETT MICHEL