This Time, Michel Walks Out for Good

Point guard Shaun Michel quit the Simi Valley High basketball team Friday, two days after he exchanged words with Coach Christian Aurand and left at halftime during a game at Westlake.

Michel’s departure ends a tumultuous season in which the 6-foot-2 junior was suspended for five games and sat out the first quarter of at least two others because of disciplinary action by Aurand.

Jim Michel, Shaun’s father, said he filed a grievance against Aurand with the Simi Valley Unified School District on Friday because he felt Shaun’s quitting was the result of Aurand “brow-beating” his son all season.

Aurand declined comment.

Robert Garcia, assistant principal in charge of athletics at Simi Valley, said, “We support Christian 100%. And we’re not going to comment on anything further.”

The problems surrounding Shaun Michel apparently will not keep older brother Brett from continuing to play for Simi Valley. Brett said Thursday he was considering not playing on Friday.

Brett, a senior forward and the team’s second-leading scorer, played Friday night as the Pioneers put the finishing touches on their second consecutive Marmonte League title with a 85-64 victory over cross-town rival Royal.

Simi Valley (24-2, 12-0 in league play) is expected to be seeded No. 3 in the Southern Section Division I-A playoffs when the pairings are announced Sunday.

But without Shaun Michel, the Pioneers will be hard-pressed to advance to the semifinals, as they did last season.

Michel, who leads the region in assists, said he left in the middle of Simi Valley’s game Wednesday night after Aurand told him he would not play in the second half.

Michel said Aurand benched him midway through the first quarter and told him he should have passed the ball to teammate Branduinn Fullove instead of driving.

After the play, Michel said Bobby Fullove, Branduinn’s father, yelled at him from the stands for not passing the ball to Branduinn.

After he was pulled from the game, Michel said he complained to Aurand about Bobby Fullove’s behavior. During the exchange, Michel said he directed an expletive at Aurand.

Bobby Fullove declined comment.

Senior Anish Sharda has taken over as starting point guard for Simi Valley, which is 6-0 this season in games in which Shaun Michel has not played.

Aurand is in his first season as head coach after nine years as an assistant under Dean Bradshaw, who resigned as the Pioneers’ coach in September.