Friends Are Foes for One Game

Coaches John Taylor of Antelope Valley College and Mike Muro of Valley suspected this was bound to happen.

The Marauders and Monarchs are pitted in a first-round game of the Southern California women’s basketball regional on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at Valley.

So what’s the big deal?

Taylor coached Valley for seven seasons before taking over at Antelope Valley this season.

Muro was Taylor’s assistant for five seasons.

“It’s a little awkward,” Taylor said. “The fact he’s one of my best friends makes it unique.”

Taylor and Muro met at Poly High, where they played basketball in the 1970s for Doug Michelson, men’s coach at Valley.

“The scary thing is that all [season] we’ve been talking about each other’s team, so we know a little too much about each other,” Muro said.

Both wonder if the seeding committee pulled a fast one in placing Valley (22-12) and Antelope Valley (19-14) in the same bracket.

The teams have not met since the 1998-99 season. Valley has won 16 in a row against the Marauders dating to 1984-85.

“We were talking a few days ago, saying that if there was any way it could be done, we would end up playing each other,” Muro said.

Taylor and Muro had dinner together on Tuesday night and exchanged parting shots.

“We are going to beat you,” each said.

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Brian Beauchemin, Glendale men’s basketball coach, can notch his 400th career victory if the No. 8-seeded Vaqueros (20-10) defeat No. 25 Cerritos (14-16) at home in a Southern California regional first-round game Saturday night.

Only a handful of coaches in California have reached that milestone.

“It means I could deal with adversity,” Beauchemin said. “It means I stayed one step ahead of the posse.”

In 22 seasons at Glendale, Beauchemin’s teams have won 20 or more games 12 times. His record is 399-285.