Demanding Schedule Helps Campbell Hall During Playoff Run

Two teams from the region are alive in the Southern Section boys’ basketball playoffs. Simi Valley High isn’t a big surprise.

Then there’s Campbell Hall.

The Vikings (22-8) have had little trouble in the playoffs, beating four opponents by an average of 36.8 points.

They play Downey Calvary Chapel at 7:30 tonight in a Division V-AA semifinal at Cerritos Valley Christian High.

Coach Brian Haloossim credits Campbell Hall’s schedule, which included the Las Vegas Holiday Classic, the Chaminade and Beverly Hills tournaments and a season opener against Harvard-Westlake, the Mission League champion.

The Vikings’ competition in the Delphic League was also strong, with games against Pacific Hills, seeded No. 1 in the V-AA playoffs, and Crossroads, seeded No. 2 in IV-A.

“We knew we wanted to be tested,” Haloossim said. “Now we’re able to go into our pocket and say to our kids, ‘Hey, look at our schedule.’ ”

The closest playoff game for the Vikings, who are led by 6-foot-8 senior Jesse Foster and guard Hassan Bassiri, was a 63-48 victory over Chadwick in a quarterfinal last Friday.

“Sometimes people play down to their competition, but we haven’t done that yet [in the playoffs],” Haloossim said. “It’s encouraging. Last year’s team did. We’d struggle in the first half against some teams.

“This year, we’ve been able to empty our bench and play some of the players we’ve brought up from the [junior varsity] after the first quarter.”