SIMI VALLEY vs CALABASAS

Based on the recent performance of both teams, MaxPreps predicts on: 1/18/2008
Simi Valley will beat Calabasas with a final score of 78 - 57.

Late Boys Basketball Results
The Daily News

Lorne Jackson had 29 points, Brad Lewis added 22 and Mike Meza threw in 10 for Simi Valley in a 79-61 Marmonte League win over Calabasas. Matt Graditor put in 12 and Eric Mont had 10 for Indians in the loss...

MARMONTE:
When Simi Valley held off Thousand Oaks 72-67 on Jan. 11 it was the fourth game the Pioneers had played decided by six points or less this season. Looking down the road for Simi Valley (18-1), the Pioneers face a tough road test at Westlake on Feb. 1, a team they nipped by just two earlier in the year.
MARMONTE LEAGUE

Simi Valley 79, Calabasas 61

Lorne Jackson had 29 points in the win for Simi Valley (19-1, 8-0).

A team to remember
By Loren Ledin

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Twenty years later, Don MacLean still feels the buzz. Like when the 1988 Simi Valley High basketball team, fresh off its CIF-Southern Section Division 4-A championship, opened the state playoffs at home against Manual Arts.
As usual, the line of fans attempting to jam inside Tom Harmon Gymnasium snaked all the way from the ticket booth to the school entrance adjacent to Cochran Street.
MacLean, the senior center, was mounting the stairs to the school's East wing when he was spotted by the throng. "I was alone, just walking the stairs when everyone saw me," he said. "They just erupted. I didn't know what to think. It was such an amazing feeling to know that they were all there to see us play basketball. It made me think what we meant to the school, and the whole town."
Two decades after amassing 28 victories, winning a Southern Section title and galvanizing a community, the 1988 Pioneers returned home Friday night. Coach Bob Hawking and 10 of the 12 athletes who produced Simi Valley's own version of Showtime were honored at halftime of Simi Valley High's Marmonte League game against visiting Calabasas.
Another full house brought back the memories for three-time All-CIF-SS forward Shawn Delaittre.
"It was a lot like this," he said, surveying the fans filling the gymnasium. "Every game was like this. It seems like people got excited. It was definitely a good feeling to be a part of it all."
The 1988 Pioneers may or may not be the best boys' high school basketball team ever to represent Ventura County, but the legacy suggests an alignment of stars and a pyramid of accomplishments as seldom seen as Haley's Comet.
Among the feats:
• Simi Valley was the only county team to win a large-schools CIF-Southern Section championship in the 57 years between two Ventura High titlists: The 1948-49 Cougars coached by Bob Tuttle and the 2005-2006 Cougars directed by Dan Larson.
• The roster featured one future NBA player and three All-CIF-SS players who would play Division I college basketball. MacLean, a 6-foot-10 center, became the all-time leading scorer for both UCLA and the Pacific-10 Conference and would play nine seasons in the NBA; DeLaittre, a 6-5 forward, was a three-time All-CIF-SS selection who played his college ball at Eastern Washington; Butch Hawking, a 6-foot point guard, was an All-CIF-SS choice who would play for the Air Force Academy.
They weren't the only top-notch athletes. Jon Jones played college football at UNLV, Mike Langford was a member of the volleyball team at San Diego State and Steve Carnes played basketball for Ventura College.
• The Pioneers finished 28-4, including a 70-64 victory in overtime over Capistrano Valley in the CIF-SS Division 4-A championship game. Since freshmen were not then allowed to play on varsity teams, MacLean-Delaittre-Hawking formed a core that racked up a record of 81-9 over three varsity seasons.
The three-year record in three successive Marmonte League championships was 35-1. The three-year span included 40 consecutive home victories.
• The 1988 aggregation averaged 87 points per game, still a program record, while shooting 60 percent from the field. They shot 42 percent from 3-point range in the first season the 3-point line was adopted in California.
The average margin of victory in Marmonte League games was 24.4 points; the average margin in CIF-SS playoff games was 23.6 points.
The Pioneers scored 100 or more points seven times, and tallied 68 points in one half against Camarillo.
Today, the legacy continues to produce success stories.
MacLean is radio and television broadcaster, providing color commentary for UCLA and Clippers basketball. Delaittre is an account executive with Bottomline Mortgage, Inc., and Butch Hawking is a partner with Kaye/Bassman International, a executive search firm located in Plano, Texas.
Among others, Gerald Pickett teaches world history at Agoura High.
Hawking, who helped spearhead the reunion by locating team members, said his high school basketball experience became a springboard to life.
"I remember a lot of great victories, but mostly I remember practice," he said. "We worked so hard to earn everything we achieved. That's really the lesson you apply to life. I was always competitive, and I still am competitive. But you don't gain anything without the hard work. I learned much of that from playing basketball."
The Pioneers reached the CIF-SS finals in 1986, losing by three points to Stacy Augmon-led Muir High. A year later, they were upset in the quarterfinals by Santa Monica.
With its last chance in 1988, the talented senior class won its championship, and garnered relief.
"That championship was very special," said Hawking.
"It was such a disappointment to lose in the quarterfinals as juniors. I remember that I couldn't get the ball into Don on our last possession. If I do that, he scores and we probably win the game. The very next day I went back to work. I was determined to get bigger, stronger and better."
MacLean remains Ventura County's all-time leading scorer with 2,343 points, including a program-record 1,008 points as a senior. More than numbers, he associates high school basketball as a rite of innocence.
"You play for your school and community," he said. "At UCLA and in the NBA, of course, it became more like a job. It was about production and preparation and taking yourself to a different level.
"It's great to come back and be a part of this. High school basketball will always be a special feeling for me."
©
2008 Ventura County Star

Dominguez captures 2007 MaxPreps Holiday Classic

By Joel Francisco Scouts Inc.(Archive)

Updated: December 26, 2007
DEL MAR, Calif. -- In one of the most gut-wrenching championship games thus far this season, Dominguez pulled out a stunning 84-83 victory over a resilient Simi Valley Pioneer squad. Dominick LaCoste's putback off a an errant 3-point attempt by Darrell Espy with two seconds left captured the Dons the 2007 Maxpreps Holiday Classic.
The Dons built an impressive 13-point lead going into the fourth quarter by utilizing their outstanding depth, a suffocating defense and dominating the glass. However, things began to unravel for them in the fourth due to a lack of composure (two critical technical fouls -- one of those would be starter Bryce Cartwright's fifth and final foul).
But despite the Dons' failure to put the game away in the fourth, a more significant reason on why Simi Valley got back into the game was the awe-inspiring play of their outstanding point guard 6-1 senior Lorne Jackson (39 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds) who was brilliant throughout the tournament.
Jackson, one of the fastest rising seniors in the West, ventured his way through the Dons' pressure making one impressive play after another. His ability to read the defense and make savvy decisions consistently is what separates him from most point guards in the country.
However in the end Dominguez would pull out the dramatic victory and capture its second tournament championship of the season (Amare Stoudemire Invitational Classic being the other). The Dons' leading scorers were steady 6-2 junior Myron Green (20 points) and scorer deluxe 6-7 junior Jordan Hamilton (15 points).
Along with Jackson, the Pioneers, who by the way are one of the most well-coached teams I've seen this season, received great performances by 6-4 Michael Meza (18 points) and 6-2 Brad Lewis (16 points).
Standout Players
Lorne Jackson (6-1, 175) Senior, Simi Valley, Calif. Jackson was originally going to be listed as one of my surprise selections, but his play was far too impressive for that category. Like D.J. Gay (current freshman at San Diego State) displayed during the 2006-07 season, no player's stock is elevating quicker in the West than Jackson. Jackson is the quintessential point guard for the next level. Although he isn't the quickest or the fastest, his savvy and craftiness with the ball is beyond his years. He makes great decisions at both ends and is one of the more impressive competitors and leaders that I've seen during the 2007-08 season. His passing ability is excellent and most importantly he rarely turns the ball over. In addition, he is one of the rare prospects in high school that takes what the defense gives him. Although he is a pass-first point guard, he can score effectively (39-point outburst against Dominguez) either off the bounce or the 3-point jump shot. Jackson is unsigned and it wouldn't surprise me if he ends up at a high-major program for the 2008-09 season.



The Star's rankings
1. Simi Valley (17-1)
Comment: Lorne Jackson scored 30 or more points 3 times in six-game stretch.
Last week: Defeated Westlake, Thousand Oaks and Westlake.
2. Ventura (15-5)
Comment: James Ennis is proving to be a force on the defensive end of the court.
Last week: Defeated Buena.
3. Oaks Christian (15-2)
Comment: Last eight opponents have averaged 36.3 points.
Last week: Defeated Santa Paula, Nordhoff, Carpinteria.
4. Santa Clara (1)
Comment: Balanced scoring has been key to team's success.
Last week: Defeated Oak Park, Santa Paula, Nordhoff.
5. Thousand Oaks (12-6)
Comment: Three of last four games have been decided by five points or less.
Last week: Defeated Calabasas and Agoura, lost to Simi Valley.

Simi Valley's Jackson wants to play ball for the Trojans
Simi Valley's Lorne Jackson is one of the most dynamic players in Southern California and he's hoping he won't have to travel too far to display his mad skills in college.
Jackson told Scout.com he has several schools interesting in his services, with the big ones being USC, American, UC Riverside, UC San Diego and Butler. The coaches from San Diego have already put an offer on the table, but Jackson is really hoping he'll get something from the Trojans.
"If they offer, that's where I'll go," he said.
Jackson is averaging a team-best 23.8 ppg and 6.9 rpg this season for the Pioneers, heading into their game against visiting Calabasas on Friday night.

Twenty years later, they remain Simi's greatest team Championship squad from 1987-88 to be honored at boys' basketball game tonight
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

Photo courtesy of Simi Valley High A SPECIAL GROUP- The 1987-88 Simi Valley High boys' basketball team posted a 284 overall record en route to winning the CIFSouthern Section Division 4A title. The team will be honored at halftime of tonight's game at SVHS. Pictured in the front row from left are Steve Barlow, Butch Hawking, Chris Wright and Mike Langford. Top row: Coach Bob Hawking, Steve Carnes, Darren Aurand, Gerald Pickett, Jon Jones, Don MacLean, Shawn DeLaittre, Dave Penrod, Tim Hall, John Hodges and assistant coach Jim Carr. It was a special year for sports in Southern California.
In 1988, the Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up the second of back-to-back NBA titles; the Los Angeles Dodgers, led by Orel Hershiser and Kirk Gibson, won the World Series and the Los Angeles Kings pulled off the biggest trade in NHL history by acquiring Wayne Gretzky.
But in the Conejo Valley, no ticket was hotter than one that got fans inside Tom Harmon Gym to see the Simi Valley High boys' basketball team.
The 1987-88 Pioneers won all 12 of their Marmonte League games en route to a 28-4 record that culminated in a 7064 overtime win against Capistrano Valley at the Los Angeles Sports Arena for the CIFSouthern Section Division 4A championship.

Photo courtesy of Simi Valley High THE DON- Simi Valley High graduate Don MacLean, center, was a McDonald's All-American during the 1987-88 season. He went on to play at UCLA before being drafted into the NBA in 1992. "I remember the unbelievable following that team had," current Simi Valley head coach Christian Aurand said. "People would start lining up hours before the game to buy tickets, and the line would stretch all the way out to Cochran Street.
"So many fans wanted tickets that the school ended up selling extra tickets for people to watch the game on television in the multipurpose room on campus."
Fans will be packed into the SVHS gym once again tonight, as the '87-88 team will be honored at halftime of the Pioneers' game against Calabasas High. For some players and coaches, the reunion will mark the first time in 20 years that they've seen each other.

Photos courtesy of Simi Valley High THEIR LEADER- Coach Bob Hawking helped turn the SVHS basketball program around. "I think there's going to be 11 of the 12 players present, and we haven't all been in the same room together since 1988," former guard and three-time All-CIF first-team member Shawn Delaittre said.
"It's going to be really great to see all those guys again."
For three years, SVHS was the last squad opposing Marmonte League teams wanted to see. From 1986 to 1988, the Pioneers lost only one league game and went 71-9 overall. The Pioneers were especially tough to beat in their home gym, where they won 40 straight games.
Simi Valley was led by Don MacLean, the leading scorer in Ventura County history with 2,343 career points. MacLean, a three-time member of the All-CIF first team and a McDonald's All American, scored 1,008 points in 1988, a school record. His 1,120 career rebounds are also a team record.
"I got to know (MacLean) at an early age because he was such a good friend of my son, Butch, who was in the same grade," former Simi Valley head coach Bob Hawking said.
"When you saw him as a fourth-grader, you just knew he was going to be something special. He was never satisfied with where his game was, and he was a great learner. He was a big kid with extremely good coordination."
MacLean would go on to have a stellar career at UCLA, where he became the Pac-10's all-time leading scorer.
After the 1992 season, MacLean went to the NBA, where he played with teams such as the Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat and Washington Bullets. He was named the NBA's Most Improved Player in 1994.
Still, one of MacLean's favorite memories was winning the title with Simi Valley.
"We had been on the doorstep for so long, with a loss in the championship game my sophomore year and a disappointing loss to Santa Monica High in the quarterfinals my junior year," MacLean said.
"So when we won the championship, it was a huge relief for us because we were ranked No. 1 all year long. It was a great feeling and something special for all of us."
Delaittre, whose 18 points per game ranks sixth in Pioneer history, agreed with his former teammate.
"We should have won the previous two years, so when the final seconds ticked off the clock at the Sports Arena it was more of a relief than anything," Delaittre said. "Coming into that championship game, we were all very confident. We just knew we were going to win."
Handling the pointguard duties for the Pioneers was Butch Hawking, who was named to the All-CIF second team his senior year. Hawking's 438 assists rank fifth on the school's all-time list.
"One of my greatest memories was being exhausted at the L.A. Sports Arena after winning the CIF title," Butch Hawking said. "I cramped up and cried tears of joy the whole bus ride home."
He said a reason for the team's success was its grueling practices during the week.
"Our practices were all-out wars," Butch Hawking said. "By the end of practice, we'd take off our jerseys and they'd just be soaked with sweat. It almost became a contest of who could squeeze the most sweat off their jersey onto the floor.
"In a way, the practices where we played against each other was our toughest competition. We just loved it when we stepped onto the floor and got to take it out on another team instead."
Although MacLean, Delaittre and Butch Hawking may have been the Pioneers' three biggest scoring threats, they were hardly the only stars. The rest of the team consisted of Jon Jones, John Hodges, Gerald Pickett, Mike Langford, Steve Carnes, Darren Aurand, Steve Barlow, Chris Wright and Tim Hall.
"Our bench would've started for most teams," MacLean said. "When we were blowing out teams in the first half, Coach Hawking would put in our bench players, and they would play just as well. The majority of the time they would extend our lead."
Steve Johnson, Simi Valley's sophomore head coach in 1988 and current Newbury Park High head varsity coach, has a vivid memory of Darren Aurand, who Butch Hawking called the "greatest defensive player in the history of Simi Valley."
"In the championship game we were in need of a basket in the fourth quarter, and Darren hit a big shot for us," Johnson said. "He was always known as the defensive stopper on the team, so it was nice to see him contribute on offense as well."
Bob Hawking said the championship wouldn't have been possible without every member on the team doing his part.
"Everybody played their role perfectly on that team," Bob Hawking said. "We had defensive guys, rebounding guys- everything. All the spokes on the wheel were in place."
The championship victory would be the last for Bob Hawking at Simi Valley, as the coach decided to move on after 14 years and 240 career wins at the helm.
Hawking would go on to be an assistant at Pepperdine University and UC Davis before becoming the head coach at Cal State Fullerton and Anaheim High.
"I had a lot of offers to go to other schools, especially at the college level during my time at Simi Valley," Bob Hawking said. "I'm very glad I never took any of those offers or else I would have never experienced the championship season of '88."
During the past month, Butch Hawking has started a campaign to rename Simi Valley's gym Bob Hawking Court at Tom Harmon Gym. Prior to Bob Hawking becoming the head coach, Simi Valley's record was 44-89.
"Our players were good, but I believe our coaches were even better," Butch Hawking said. "After every game they would get in the car and go scout another team. We were always prepared."
Although the 198788 Pioneers still hold team records in scoring (87.4 per game), highest field goal percentage (.595), three-point percentage (.421), free throws (560) and assists (790), the current Simi Valley team is looking to break some of those marks.
With an 18-1 record and by averaging 82.7 points per game, many people, such as Johnson, are drawing comparisons.
"They definitely have that certain Simi Valley stamp, and I think that's because of their head coach, Christian Aurand," Johnson said.
"They don't have a Don MacLean-type player, but they have a huge emphasis on the fundamentals and defense just like the '88 team."
Although Christian Aurand appreciates the praise, he was quick to point out that his current squad is not on par with the championship team just yet.
"I'd hate to go there because we haven't even won a Marmonte League championship, so I don't think it would be fair to compare us to the team of 20 years ago," Christian Aurand said. "Yes, we've had a great start, but the teams are like apples and oranges as far as styles of play."
Tonight, fans can see a glimpse of both teams with tipoff slated for 7:30 p.m. Make sure to get there early because the lines have been known to reach Cochran Street.
The weekend began with a beautiful rendition of our national anthem and ended with the San Diego Chargers earning this guy (thumbs to my chest) a trip to the bank.
What can I say? Sometimes it pays to be a Dorkman.
Venue: Thousand Oaks High gymnasium last Friday night. Matchup: Simi Valley vs. Thousand Oaks boys' basketball teams. Bottom line: Most anticipated game of Marmonte League schedule.
First and foremost, Newbury Park resident Carmen Carter was awesome singing the national anthem. Carter, whose son, Chris, is a junior forward for the Lancers, sings professionally for the TV show "Dancing with the Stars."
Performing in a green dress complemented by a golden crown, Carter's goose-bump-inducing voice pushed the already electric crowd to another level.
Simi Valley won the game, 72-67, to remain undefeated in league competition. Thousand Oaks suffered its first Marmonte League defeat and dropped to 12-6 overall.

The high flying Pioneers continue to impress, and senior point guard Lorne Jackson remains the team's catalyst. Against Thousand Oaks, Jackson took the ball to the basket at will, scoring a game high 24 points.
"Whenever I got the ball I just tried to beat the defense down the court, every single time," Jackson said.
Following his team's hardfought victory in front of T.O.'s rabid Green Hole, Jackson said the win was further proof that the Pioneers can excel in the most hostile environments.
"We can play anywhere, that's what this shows," he said. "We can win on the road if we play well. . . . Besides, these are the best kinds of fans to silence."
Jackson, the Marmonte League's leading scorer with 24.2 points per game, entered Wednesday's matchup at Moorpark High having scored at least 20 points in 14 of Simi Valley's first 18 contests.
The Pioneers won 17 of those games, with their lone loss coming by way of an 84-83 buzzerbeater to powerhouse ComptonDominguez in late December.
Michael Meza, Simi Valley's versatile forward, entered the week tied with Moorpark senior guard David Buchanan for second in the league in scoring (20 points per game). SVHS junior guard Brad Lewis ranked fourth (18.5).
Not only can Simi Valley put the ball in the basket, but head coach Christian Aurand's squad runs opposing teams ragged with its defensive pressure. The final six minutes weren't fun for Thousand Oaks. It's a point in the game where SVHS has been at its best this season.
Still, TOHS deserves major credit. The Lancers fell behind 13-4 early on and didn't establish their initial lead until a second effort basket by senior forward
Cyrus Kiani midway through the second quarter.
TOHS was within striking distance all night until Meza iced the game with a pair of free throws with only seconds remaining in the contest.
Kiani said the Lancers never feared the Pioneers, adding they'll learn from the loss and rebound with a better performance when SVHS hosts Thousand Oaks on Feb. 6.
"When we play the way we're capable of playing, we can compete with this team," Kiani said. "They're ranked really high, and everyone has been praising them, and we respected this team and knew they were going to be good. . . . "But I think we can take them down next time. I'm really confident about it."
Count me in for the rematch.

SIMI VALLEY vs MOORPARK

Simi Valley 76, Moorpark 54

Lorne Jackson had 16 points, 11 assists, and six steals for Simi Valley (18-1, 7-0) in the victory over Moorpark (10-9, 1-6). Michael Meza added 28 points and nine rebounds for Simi Valley. David Buchanan scored 14 points and Cody McVeigh had 10 points, eight rebounds, four blocks for Moorpark.

LANGSTON....THE NEXT LEVEL!!!

From staff reports
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Postseason honors for the 2007 Ventura County Football Coaches Association's Large Schools football team.

Chosen to the first-team offense were: Backs — Adam Barry, Moorpark; Colby Cameron, Newbury Park; Langston Jackson, Simi Valley;

Highlight clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhlqy5JHvzk

HIGH SCHOOLS
Football commits
From Times Staff Reports

January 9, 2008

Wednesday, Feb. 6, is the first day football players can sign letters of intent with colleges. Many of the Southland's top players have already made verbal agreements with schools, while others are still weighing their options.Here are some of the top commits:

Offense RB -- Langston Jackson, Simi Valley. Considering Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Portland State and San Jose State.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/la-spw-hsrbchart29aug29,0,7814112.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-highschool
From the Los Angeles Times
HOW THEY RANK
A look at the top running backs in the Southland

August 29, 2007

SOUTHERN SECTION Rank, Name, Height, Weight, Year

1. Darrell Scott (St. Bonaventure), 6-1, 200, Sr. -- 2. Ryan Bass (Corona Centennial), 5-10, 205, Sr. -- 3. Delano Howell (Hart), 6-0, 190, Sr. -- 4. Wes Fletcher (Placentia Valencia), 5-9, 175, Sr. -- 5. Derrick Colman (Troy), 6-0, 220, Sr. Others (in alphabetical order) Kejon Barner (Riverside Notre Dame), 5-11, 175, Sr. Anthony Barr (Loyola), 6-3, 205, So. -- Brian Baucham (West Torrance), 6-0, 165, Sr. --Jorge Chaidez (Bell-Jeff), 5-10, 170, Sr. Donyae Coleman (Lynwood), 5-10, 165, Sr. -- Rap Dantic (Magnolia), 5-8, 165, Sr. --Marcus Darden (Dominguez), 5-8, 185, Jr. -- Lawrence Doss (St. John Bosco), 5-10, 185, Sr. --Arby Fields (Los Osos), 5-9, 190, Jr. -- Cedric Foster (Riverside North), 5-7, 195, Sr. -- ,

David Freeman (Inglewood), 5-9, 183, Sr. -- Donald Green (Compton), 5-7, 160, Sr. -- Chris Harris (Duarte), 5-9, 170, Sr.; Aubrey Haynes (St. Paul), 5-11, 225, Sr. --B.J. Iverson (Corona Santiago), 5-9, 165, Sr. -- Langston Jackson (Simi Valley), 6-2, 210, Sr. -- An unsung talent in Ventura CountyRamon Judkins (Beverly Hills), 6-1, 200, Sr. -- Malcolm Jones (Oaks Christian), 6-1, 205, So. -- Areseo Lakey (Edison), 6-0, 190, Sr. --Jon Lister (Thousand Oaks), 6-1, 190, Jr. -- Mark Love (Maranatha), 5-10, 180, Sr. --Malcolm Marable (Alemany), 5-9, 160, So. -- Jared Moore (Esperanza), 6-1, 195, Jr. -- Jai Morris (El Toro), 5-11, 185, Sr. -- Josh Nakamoto (Norco), 6-2, 195, Sr. -- Ricky Pemasa (Orange Lutheran), 6-0, 205, Sr. -- Greg Portis (Servite), 5-7, 155, Jr. -- Austin Shanks (Crespi), 5-8, 170, Sr. -- Cierra Wood (Santa Clara), 5-11, 182, Jr. -- Ryan Zirbel (Saugus), 6-2, 215, Jr.

Compiled by Eric Sondheimer

SEASON NOTES:

Simi Valley comes up big

By Loren Ledin Saturday, September 29, 2007
With one disastrous play, Simi Valley High team yielded all the momentum Friday night.
But not the game. Langston Jackson, Alan Steele and the Pioneers' senior leadership would not allow it. Jackson rushed for touchdowns of 3 and 21 yards in the fourth quarter, and Simi Valley fired the first upset salvo in league with a 14-6 victory over Moorpark at Simi Valley High.
Jackson rushed for 125 yards on a workhorse 30 carries, 113 of them in the second half, and Simi Valley's defense pitched a shutout against Moorpark and quarterback Adam Barry.
On Simi Valley's homecoming night Jackson said pride pushed its way to the forefront.
"It seems like people were saying that we're just an average team," Jackson said. "We wanted to prove to everybody that we're a pretty good team. Everybody came together tonight. It wasn't just me. Everybody played hard, especially in the second half, to make sure we'd get a win."
After a Moorpark punt, Simi Valley covered 75 yards in 10 plays, the final 21 yards coming on Jackson's scoring run.

Simi pitches shutout
By Lance O'Fallon Correspondent

Saturday, October 13, 2007
Langston Jackson ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns to lead Simi Valley High to a 21-0 shutout victory over host Calabasas in a Marmonte League game on Friday night.

Jackson is man of action for Simi
By Sean Ceglinsky Correspondent

Friday, September 21, 2007

Jackson ran just about wherever he wanted Thursday night.
Up the middle and through the tackles of would-be defensive linemen and linebackers. To the outside and past the outstretched arms of opposing cornerbacks and safeties. It didn't matter who, or what, was in his way.
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound senior was seemingly unstoppable, rushing for 138 yards on 25 carries and four touchdowns in a little more than three quarters of work for Simi Valley in its 28-0 victory over visiting Burbank in a non-league game.
"Langston flies under the radar because he plays at Simi Valley, but I'll tell you what, he's as good as any running back in Ventura County," Pioneers coach Todd Borowski said. "People are going to start opening their eyes if he continues to play the way he did tonight."

The Pioneers took over on downs and Jackson scored shortly thereafter, running over Joey Cardenez en route to a 1-yard plunge and 21-0 lead with 33 seconds remaining in the first half.
"I was seeing things before they happened tonight," said Jackson, who's being recruited by several Pacific-10 Conference schools, including UCLA, Oregon and Washington State, and has a scholarship offer from Utah.
"I was pumped up for this game and my offensive line did a great job. I wasn't going to let up out there. I came in prepared and showed what I can do."

Newbury Park 32, Simi Valley 13:

The Panthers remained undefeated at 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the Marmonte League. Newbury Park's defense racked up eight sacks for 52 yards in losses. Simi Valley's Langston Jackson rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries, but Simi Valley moves to 4-4 overall and in league.

Simi Valley beats Buena behind Jackson's 172 yards
Daily News Inside SOCAL
Article Last Updated:09/09/2007 02:16:30 AM PDT

Langston Jackson had 172 yards on 24 carries, including 106 yards that set up two first-half touchdowns, as host Simi Valley recorded a 28-14 non-league football victory Saturday over Buena of Ventura.
- Bret Taylor

From Scout.com

Posted: 10/27/2007 1:45 PM A Couple Compliments
After watching the NP-Simi game, I need to give a couple heart-felt compliments. First to Newbury Park and coach George Hurley: You guys are truly a class act. Any team that is undefeated at this point in the season certainly has talent. I believe there are other teams in the league with comparable talent, but nobody executes better and plays together as a team like you. How refreshing to see an undefeated team come out and play the game and show respect for their opponents without all the trash-talking and cheap shots that have become so common in high school football. It's hard not to like this team and pull for them in the playoffs.Secondly, to Langston Jackson. What a great example this kid is for all of his teammates. Langston is not only an amazing player but the fact that he gives so much of himself all the time, never complaining, doing what is asked of him should be an inspiration to his teammates. Whether he is carrying his team on his shoulders or blocking for his QB when the team falls behind in the game, it is always a 100% effort. I think this was hammered home last night when the team bus had to take a detour to Simi Hospital so Langston could get an IV to counter the cramping that was taking over his body after another balls out effort. In an era where talented players "shop" for a program to showcase their skills to college recruiters, Langston has remained loyal to Simi and is an example of what high school football is all about. If we can get that kind of effort out of everyone on the team for the next two weeks, Simi can still make a statement about the direction of the program.

SIMI VALLEY vs NEWBURY PARK

http://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/la-preps-bbk07-rank,1,1685858.story?coll=la-util-sports-highschool
From the Los Angeles Times
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' BASKETBALL
The Times' rankings
Staff writer Dan Arritt's rankings through games of Monday, Jan. 7, 2008:
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
January 8, 2007
Rk School (Rec.) Division LW
1
Taft (9-2)
City
3
2
Mater Dei (16-0)
Div. I-AA
4
3
Westchester (14-2)
City
2
4
Dominguez (9-2)
Div. I-AA
6
5
Campbell Hall (12-4)
Div. III-AA
7
6
Santa Margarita (16-1)
Div. I-AA
9
7
Fairfax (11-2)
City
1
8
Etiwanda (15-0)
Div. I-A
12
9
Riverside King (14-1)
Div. I-A
NR
10
Simi Valley (15-1)
Div. I-AA
21
11
El Toro (15-1)
Div. I-A
24
12
JSerra (13-4)
Div. I-AA
NR
13
Bishop Montgomery (12-4)
Div. II-AA
11
14
Gahr (12-3)
Div. I-AA
8
15
Compton (11-5)
Div. I-AA
5
16
Renaissance Academy (16-2)
Div. III-A
NR
17
Redlands (14-0)
Div. II-AA
NR
18
Capistrano Valley (14-4)
Div. I-AA
NR
19
Los Alamitos (11-5)
Div. I-A
13
20
Cor. Centennial (17-2)
Div. II-A
NR
21
Harvard-Westlake (12-4)
Div. I-AA
15
22
Upland (14-3)
Div. I-A
NR
23
Corona del Mar (10-5)
Div. III-A
NR
24
Palisades (16-2)
City
25
25
Chino Hills (14-2)
Div. I-A
NR

MARMONTE LEAGUE

Simi Valley 95, Newbury Park 73
Lorne Jackson's 28 points -- including 13 for 13 free throws -- combined with his 13 rebounds and eight assists sparked host Simi Valley (17-1, 6-0) past Newbury Park. Charles Benton scored 18 for Newbury Park. Simi Valley led, 45-34, at halftime.

The Daily News

Simi Valley finishes tough week with impressive win

After two big victories against Westlake and Thousand Oaks earlier in the week, the Simi Valley boys' basketball team still had enough gas left in the tank Saturday night in a 95-75 Marmonte League win over Newbury Park.
Lorne Jackson scored 28 points and had 13 rebounds to lead four Pioneers (17-1, 6-0) in double figures. All 12 players scored for Simi Valley.
"We started a little slow tonight but got going the in the second quarter," Simi Valley coach Christian Aurand said. "I am just glad to get out of this week with three wins."
Trailing 16-13, Simi Valley - ranked No. 12 in the state by Cal-Hi Sports - went on a 17-2 run, spearheaded by Jackson's 17 first-half points. Jackson finished 13 for 13 at the free-throw line.
Leading by 11 points at halftime, the Pioneers put the game away with a 9-0 run to start the third quarter, thanks to a 3-pointer and layup from Michael Meza. Meza finished with 11 points as did teammate Grant Keller. Junior transfer Brad Lewis scored 16 points, including three 3-pointers.
"Our key guys came through and the seniors did their job," Aurand said. "We just need to get some rest now and finish the last eight games strong."
Charles Benton had 20 points and Dalton Francis added 12 points and 12 rebounds for Newbury Park (7-11, 2-4).
- Jacob H. Pollon

Boys' basketball: Best of the best from my neck of the woods
So, we’re sitting around the office last week -- Editor Bob, Austin Knoblauch and myself --- chatting about the whole basketball scene when the topic of rankings came up. If I remember correctly, Knobs suggested we figure out the top 10 teams in the SF Valley/North region and list them accordingly. Thus, an idea was born. I’ll be doing the boys every Monday and Austin, the girls. So, without further delay, here it is:
1. Campbell Hall (15-4): No-brainer pick here. Jrue Holiday made the decision a whole lot easier.
2. Simi Valley (17-1): Lorne Jackson and the Pioneers are one of the few teams that could give C. Hall a run for its money.
3. Harvard-Westlake (14-4): Can make a big statement tonight with a victory over visiting Loyola.
4. Crespi (11-6): Struggling a bit at the moment. Then again, Celts always play better once postseason rolls around.
5. Oaks Christian (15-2): Matt Johnson can do it all, giving the Lions chance to win it all in the Tri-Valley League.

Dominguez captures 2007 MaxPreps Holiday Classic

By Joel Francisco

Scouts Inc.(Archive)

Updated: December 26, 2007
DEL MAR, Calif. -- In one of the most gut-wrenching championship games thus far this season, Dominguez pulled out a stunning 84-83 victory over a resilient Simi Valley Pioneer squad. Dominick LaCoste's putback off a an errant 3-point attempt by Darrell Espy with two seconds left captured the Dons the 2007 Maxpreps Holiday Classic.
The Dons built an impressive 13-point lead going into the fourth quarter by utilizing their outstanding depth, a suffocating defense and dominating the glass. However, things began to unravel for them in the fourth due to a lack of composure (two critical technical fouls -- one of those would be starter Bryce Cartwright's fifth and final foul).
But despite the Dons' failure to put the game away in the fourth, a more significant reason on why Simi Valley got back into the game was the awe-inspiring play of their outstanding point guard 6-1 senior Lorne Jackson (39 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds) who was brilliant throughout the tournament.
Jackson, one of the fastest rising seniors in the West, ventured his way through the Dons' pressure making one impressive play after another. His ability to read the defense and make savvy decisions consistently is what separates him from most point guards in the country.
However in the end Dominguez would pull out the dramatic victory and capture its second tournament championship of the season (Amare Stoudemire Invitational Classic being the other). The Dons' leading scorers were steady 6-2 junior Myron Green (20 points) and scorer deluxe 6-7 junior Jordan Hamilton (15 points).
Along with Jackson, the Pioneers, who by the way are one of the most well-coached teams I've seen this season, received great performances by 6-4 Michael Meza (18 points) and 6-2 Brad Lewis (16 points).

Standout Players
Lorne Jackson (6-1, 175) Senior, Simi Valley, Calif. Jackson was originally going to be listed as one of my surprise selections, but his play was far too impressive for that category. Like D.J. Gay (current freshman at San Diego State) displayed during the 2006-07 season, no player's stock is elevating quicker in the West than Jackson. Jackson is the quintessential point guard for the next level. Although he isn't the quickest or the fastest, his savvy and craftiness with the ball is beyond his years. He makes great decisions at both ends and is one of the more impressive competitors and leaders that I've seen during the 2007-08 season. His passing ability is excellent and most importantly he rarely turns the ball over. In addition, he is one of the rare prospects in high school that takes what the defense gives him. Although he is a pass-first point guard, he can score effectively (39-point outburst against Dominguez) either off the bounce or the 3-point jump shot. Jackson is unsigned and it wouldn't surprise me if he ends up at a high-major program for the 2008-09 season.

Simi vs Thousand Oaks

Simi Valley 72, Thousand Oaks 67
Lorne Jackson's 24 points, eight assists and six rebounds and Michael Meza's 19 points, eight rebounds and four blocks led Simi Valley (16-1, 5-0) past host Thousand Oaks (5-0).

The Daily News

Simi Valley overcomes Thousand Oaks' excitement for victory
By Roman Veystman, Special to the Daily News
Article Last Updated: 01/11/2008 10:54:31 PM PST

There was an air of excitement in Thousand Oaks on Friday night.
Two undefeated Marmonte League teams, two battling student sections, a completely packed building and television cameras abound.
Two-time defending Marmonte League boys' basketball champion Thousand Oaks is a team with no stars.
Simi Valley has two, plus a bunch of veterans who know their roles. The Pioneers want what Thousand Oaks owns. And this year's team, which has gotten off to the best start in school history, is poised to be the one to do it.
The stars aligned in the end for Simi Valley. Michael Meza, who had uncharacteristically missed five free throws, made two clutch ones down the stretch to seal a 72-67 win for the Pioneers.
"People said we were the team to beat and this proves it," Meza said. "This is the biggest game in Marmonte."
With everyone in the gym standing and screaming, Meza said he felt his earlobes shaking when he stepped to the line.
"I said `I'm gonna make these man,"' Meza said. "I missed five of them, I gotta make these."
Simi Valley's other star, Lorne Jackson, led all scorers with 24 points. Just seconds earlier, with Simi Valley leading 68-65, he made two big free throws of his own.
After the Pioneers (16-1, 5-0) fell behind 47-43 - their biggest deficit of the game - they responded with a 14-0 run.
Meza scored in transition, Jackson followed with a layup, and then Jackson hit Meza for a 3-pointer. Grant Keller added two baskets and Brad Lewis, who had 14 points, knocked down a 3-pointer as well.
When Thousand Oaks (12-6, 4-1) - led by 17 points from Josh Morris - pulled within four, Simi Valley ran off seven straight points to extend the lead to 11. Meza rolled in a 3-pointer and Jackson added the exclamation point with a one-handed dunk.
"Coach tells us all the time stay consistent," Meza said. "If you get tired don't worry bout it, so when we're down we don't get worried."
At the end, the noise got lower and the crowd dispersed, just how Meza would want it.
"When we win it's all quiet and it feels good," Meza said.

SV vs Westlake - Grudge Match

Sports
Simi Valley 88, Westlake 86 (OT)

Senior point guard Lorne Jackson scored 14 of his 37 points, including the game-winning shot with 15 seconds remaining in overtime, and senior forward Mike Meza scored 10 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter for Simi Valley (15-1, 4-0), which came back to tie the game against visiting Westlake (10-6, 1-3) after trailing by 15 at 63-48, at the end of the third quarter. Jackson went 13 for 17 from the free-throw line and had nine rebounds, eight assists and four steals. Meza added eight rebounds and four blocks, including one at the end of regulation to force overtime, and teammate Brad Lewis hit a key three-pointer in overtime and finished with 13 points. Andres Svennefiord had 27 points and Adam Kolodney added 24 points for Westlake.

Simi Valley holds off Westlake
By Zachary McVicker Correspondent

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Westlake High's T.J. Hennessey watched his 3-point attempt at the buzzer hit the back iron, carom a few feet in the air and then barely miss coming down into the basket.
The shot summed up Westlake's upset bid of Marmonte League boys' basketball powerhouse Simi Valley.
Oh, so close.
Lorne Jackson's go-ahead basket with 17 seconds left and Hennessey's missed 3-pointer clinched an 88-86 overtime victory for host Simi Valley on Monday night.
The basket capped a frantic comeback by Simi Valley. Trailing 50-33 at halftime and 63-48 at the end of the fourth quarter, Simi Valley outscored Westlake 31-16 in the final period to force overtime, where Jackson sealed the victory with his layup that made the score 88-86.
Jackson was fouled on the play, but missed the free throw. Hennessey, however, just missed as time expired.
"We know all the teams in the league are going to come out and play their best game against us," said Jackson. "We can't have slow starts like we did tonight."
Simi Valley improved to 15-1, 4-0 in league, while Westlake dropped to 9-7, .
Simi Valley overcame a subpar first half in large part because of Jackson, who scored 25 of his 37 points after halftime.
The senior guard carried his team for large parts of the half — as Westlake's matchup zone frustrated fellow stars Mike Meza and Brad Lewis — penetrating off the dribble and getting to the foul line.
For good measure, Jackson nearly notched a triple-double by adding nine rebounds and eight assists.
Simi Valley needed all of it, because Westlake played a almost-flawless first half. Westlake was able to break Simi Valley's 2-2-1 zone press time and time again, leading to open 3-pointers for Adam Kolodney, who had five in the first half, and easy layups for Andreas Svennefiord.
Svennefiord, who finished with 27 points before fouling out, scored 19 in the first half on 9-of-10 shooting.
Kolodney added 19 in the first half as well, finishing the half by burying three 3-pointers in the final 3:37 to give Westlake all the momentum going into halftime.
"We played a perfect first half," said Westlake coach Tom Donohue. "We shot very well and we were creating turnovers out of our zone."
Westlake staved off a comeback before finally letting its lead slip away in the fourth quarter, as Simi Valley finally started to create turnovers as its press led to easy baskets.
"We played with a lot more intensity in the second half," said Jackson. "We had a lot more movement on offense and were putting a lot more pressure on them on defense."
"We knew they were going to make their run because they are a good team." said Donohue.
"We just started missing more of our shots and they started making more."
Meza and Lewis finally got going in the second half, finishing with 16 and 13 points respectively. Lewis hit a huge 3-pointer in overtime to make the score 81-78 with 3:37 to play, while Meza helped cool off Svennefiord in the second half.
Kolodney finished with 24 points for Westlake, while Kyle Olandt added 13 and Alec Hess had 11.
2008 Ventura County Star

Marmonte League Games - SV vs Moorpark

Simi Valley 75, Moorpark 47
Lorne Jackson had 16 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and six steals for Simi Valley (14-1, 3-0), ranked No. 21 by The Times, against visiting Moorpark (10-5, 1-2).

Simi Valley beats Moorpark by 28
By Roman Veytsman, Special to the Daily News
Article Last Updated: 01/04/2008 10:35:09 PM PST

There would be no letdown for the Simi Valley boys' basketball team following its run to the championship game of the Maxpreps Holiday Classic.
Behind Brad Lewis' 19 points, Lorne Jackson's floor game and the inside presence of Mike Meza, the Pioneers blew out Moorpark 75-47 and further solidified themselves as the favorite to win the Marmonte League.
"Before the season we said we're gonna go undefeated in league so we're gonna try to keep that up," Jackson said.
Coming into the matchup, Simi Valley (14-1, 3-0) had a sour taste in its mouth, both from its last game, a last second 84-83 loss to Dominguez of Compton, its first of the season, and last season when the Pioneers lost four of their last six league games to finish third.
"It kind of seems like they have some unfinished business and they've got some seniors that are hungry," said Moorpark coach Adam Wohlstattar, who's known Simi Valley coach Christian Aurand since the two were in the fifth grade.
Jackson, one of those seniors added seven rebounds, seven assists, and six steals to his line of 14 points, a game after dropping 39 on Compton Dominguez. Meza another senior added 17 and like Jackson and the rest of Simi's starters sat out the fourth quarter.
After Mike Meza picked up a technical foul in the second quarter, and was forced to go to the bench with three personal fouls, Simi Valley went on a 22-1 run to close the half and extended the lead to 52-25.
"I think the strength of the team is your depth," Aurand said.
For Jackson and his teammates, anything lower than a first place finish would be unacceptable this year. They haven't won the league since 2000, Aurand's first season.
"I'll be honest, any team has a chance to compete with Simi, but maybe not," Wohlstattar said. "They've got a pair in Meza and Jackson that are experienced, that are hungry, that will do anything coach Aurand says."

Torrey Pines Xmas Tourney - 1 pt. & 1 second from Championship!!!

Press-Telegram
Two could enter tourney spotless


frank.burlison@presstelegram.com

High school hoopla
I saw nearly every top team in Southern California in December, most of those on multiple occasions thanks to tournaments at Redondo Union (Pacific Shores), Westchester, Ocean View (Tournament of Champions) and Torrey Pines (Max Preps/Torrey Pines Holiday Classic).
I'll give you a few of the exceptions in a few moments.
The best teams I watched were (in approximate order): Taft, Dominguez, Simi Valley, Fairfax, Westchester, Santa Margarita, Campbell Hall, Compton, JSerra and Gahr.

The 10 players that impressed me the most when I watched them last month were (alphabetically) Jerime Anderson (Anaheim Canyon), Keion Bell (Pasadena), Demar DeRozan (Compton), Jordan Hamilton (Dominguez), Jrue Holiday (Campbell Hall), Lorne Jackson (Simi Valley), James Rahon (Torrey Pines), Renardo Sidney (Fairfax), Klay Thompson (Santa Margarita) and Casper Ware (Gahr).

UCLA-bound Malcolm Lee (J.W. North) and future North Carolina Tar Heel Larry Drew (Taft) certainly rate among the "10-best" players in Southern California. But neither played as well when I saw them (at the Westchester and TOC events, respectively) as I know they are capable.

Rehashing Torrey Pines
Simi Valley (which blew out Compton in a semifinal and then lost the 84-83 gut-cruncher in the final to Dominguez) and its exceptional - and unsigned by a college - point guard, Lorne Jackson, were the biggest surprises during the four days of the 16-team, National Division of the MaxPreps/Torrey Pines Holiday Classic.
Simi Valley, a member of the Marmonte League, is smallish (6-4 Michael Meza is its tallest starter). But, with Jackson quarterbacking its pressing and trapping defense and its up-tempo and back-cutting offense to perfection, Simi Valley figures to make a very deep run in the CIF Southern Section IAA playoffs.
How deep a run?
I think the Pioneers should be considered, along with Dominguez, Mater Dei and Santa Margarita, as one of the division's four strongest championship contenders.
The 6-foot Jackson is supposedly a very good student and figures to be pursued by just about every college program across the country in need of a quality point guard this spring.
As dynamic as Jackson (39 points) and his teammates were against Dominguez Saturday night - and they would be 14-0 right now if not for Dominick Lacoste's follow shot with two seconds to play - the Dons have only themselves to blame for not winning by a double-figure margin.
Three Dominguez players were called for technical fouls, each time while the Dons were in possession of the ball.
Besides gaining possession, the Pioneers converted each of the six (two per technical) free throws they received. And they knocked in 3-pointers on the last two of those possessions - including the one that gave them an 83-82 advantage with 27 seconds remaining.
Do the math, guys, and take it as a lesson - minus a loss - about the importance of staying in control of on-court emotions.

Ronnie Flores CalHiSports Managing Editor
The past two seasons have been disappointments for the Dominguez boys basketball program. The Dons were competitive as they always are under veteran coach Russell Otis, but their season ended before they would have like both years after Otis coached the Dons to their fifth state title, and the first in his second tour of duty with the Compton program, in 2004 and to a SoCal regional final in 2005.
Even with a roster full of newcomers, the Dons were placed at No. 18 in the Rivals.com Preseason FAB 50 National Rankings. Prep basketball insiders knew that if this talented unit meshed under Otis' guidance, they had a chance to return to the level they displayed back in 2004 when they won their sixth state title since the 1995-1996 season. The Dons lost by 16 points to preseason No. 16 Taft of Woodland Hills early in the season, but it now looks like Otis' deep unit is starting to jell after winning the National Division title game of the MaxPreps/Torrey Pines Holiday Classic with a thrilling 84-83 victory over Simi Valley on Saturday night. With the title game win, Dominguez (ranked No. 6 in the latest state rankings but likely to move up) upped its record to 10-1 with a rematch with Taft on the horizon on January 5. "That may be the best team in Los Angeles," Campbell Hall coach Terry Kelly told MaxPreps after the Dons routed his club 76-53 in the semifinals. "I know Taft beat them earlier this year but the way Hamilton is playing with such confidence and the way the supporting cast is improving, that team is going to be hard to beat."Simi Valley (which entered the game ranked No. 19 in the state) looked like it might pull off the upset and run its record to 14-0 after taking a 83-82 lead on a three-pointer by Michael Meza with 21.9 seconds left. That clutch shot by Meza gave the Pioneers their first lead of the second half after they rallied from a 13-point deficit over the course of the final period and a half. On the Dons' last possession, tournament MVP Jordan Hamilton (18 points, 12 rebounds) drove the lane and kicked the ball out to a wide-open Darrel Espy for a three-pointer. Espy missed the potential game-winner, but Dominguez junior Dominick Lacoste secured a rebound over teammate Myron Green and banked in a shot with one second remaining to give his team the improbable one-point victory. In defeat, Simi Valley had nothing to hang its head about as they played a terrific game and showed why it will take a near perfect effort to beat Dominguez the rest of the regular season. Hamilton, a talented wing forward who played last season at Dorsey of Los Angeles, might have been the tourney MVP, but the best player on Saturday night was Simi Valley's Lorne Jackson, a senior point guard. He netted a career-high 39 points and also stuffed the stat sheets with five rebounds, seven assists and five steals in a losing effort. Simi Valley was able to keep Dominguez within striking range by nailing 25 of 28 free throws, including 20 of 22 by Jackson. Jackson's all-tourney performance was aided by Meza, who also was an all-tournament pick and finished with 19 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter. Brad Lewis chipped in 16 points for Simi Valley. Green scored a team-high 20 points and was joined on the all-tournament team by Hamilton and Bryce Cartwright, who fouled out with just under 40 seconds remaining and was replaced by Lacoste, whose last-second heroics gave him eight points in the title game. Hamilton scored 24 points in the dominant semifinal victory over Kelly's squad at Campbell Hall, which came into the tourney ranked No. 8 in the state. UCLA recruit Jrue Holiday netted 21 points for the Vikings in a losing effort. Holiday was not thrilled with his team's effort against the Dons and they rebounded to take the third place game, 70-62, over an up and down Compton High team. In a balanced effort, Holiday finished with 18 points, point guard Dallas Rutherford netted a team-high 20 points and sophomore post James "Duece" Johnson added 17. Compton, who was led in defeat by Mr. Basketball candidate and USC recruit Demar DeRozan with 23 points, was not only trying to avenge an earlier loss to Campbell Hall at the Ocean View Tournament of Champions, but trying to erase the memory of an embarrassing semifinal loss to Simi Valley. In that game, the Pioneers led 33-12 after one quarter and at one point led by 40 points before wining by a 85-59 margin. Lewis canned six three-pointers for the Pioneers and finished with 25 points while DeRozan was held to a tourney low 17 points. He averaged 31.5 points per game (126 points) as Compton (ranked right behind Campbell Hall at No. 9) finished 2-2 at the event. Eads: Simi Valley proves it belongs in company of state's elite

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

On the questionnaire distributed by MaxPreps Holiday Classic officials, the boys' basketball coaches are asked to request placement in one of the four divisions.
For the first time in seven years, Simi Valley High coach Christian Aurand made his team's case for elite 16-team National Division.
"I told them that we weren't big," said Aurand, "but we had good guard play."
Simi Valley (13-1) proved it belonged. The Pioneers ripped off wins over Torrey Pines, the top-ranked team in San Diego, Campolindo and Compton before dropping an 84-83 decision to nationally ranked Dominguez in the championship game.
Dominguez, ranked among the top 25 teams in the nation in three polls, beat Simi Valley by scoring off an offensive rebound with one second left in the game. Against Compton, Simi Valley limited USC-bound DeMar DeRozan, who had scored 86 points in the first two games of the tournament, to 17 points. Lorne Jackson averaged 28.5 points in the tournament. Brad Lewis and Michael Meza had 91 and 80 points, respectively. The loss to Dominguez ended what is believed to be the program's longest winning streak (13 games) to open a season. The last time Simi Valley made the upper-division field at Torrey Pines was 1999. Simi Valley lost to Mater Dei by two points in the first round. The two teams met again that season in the Division I-A championship game, won by Mater Dei, 53-39.
Simi Valley's body of work in its first 14 games will likely increase the program's value as one of the state's best teams. "We knew that we were going to be good," said Aurand. "Any time that you return two first-team All-County players like Lorne and Michael, you have a chance. Brad (Lewis) has been great. And we have nice supporting cast from players like Spencer Feist, Danny Cox, Paul Williams and Grant Keller. "Sometimes you have lulls in a season. This team has put its pedal to the metal right from the start of the season and haven't let up."
Foremost on Aurand's mind is Friday's Marmonte League home game against Moorpark.
"That is the most important game for us right now," said Aurand.
"We want to win our league. We have fallen short in the last few years (Simi Valley's last Marmonte title came in 2000)."
Four league losses in a five-game stretch cost Simi Valley last season.
"We want to learn lessons from what happened last year," said Aurand.
Streaking: The last area boys' basketball team to open its season with 13 straight wins was Oaks Christian.
— Derry Eads' e-mail address is deads@VenturaCountyStar.com.
2008 Ventura County Star

Varsity Times Insider -->

Lewis making an impact for Simi Valley basketball
Simi Valley has to be considered one of the bigger surprises on the Southern California basketball landscape this season. And Brad Lewis has been one of the bigger contributors for the Pioneers, who opened plenty of eyes last week by nearly knocking off Compton Dominguez in the title game of the Torrey Pines tournament.
Lewis transferred from crosstown-rival Royal a season ago and was a mainstay on the Simi Valley junior varsity team because of transfer rules, despite having the potential to make an impact at the next level. The junior guard is making the most of his opportunity this season, playing alongside Lorne Jackson and Mike Meza, shooting 52% from the field and averaging 19.4 points a game.
"Having Brad in the lineup adds another dimension to our offense. It's like we have a three-headed monster out there on the court,'' Coach Christian Aurand said. "Brad is a scorer. He wants the ball. He has zero fear. He's very talented, extremely versatile, the kind of kid that gets better with every game.''
The Pioneers, as a whole, seem to get better with each game too. Can't imagine opposing teams in the Marmonte League not noticing the improvement. It appears as if Simi Valley was deserving of its No. 21 preseason ranking in The Times, and Lewis is largely, though not solely, responsible for the Pioneers' unexpectedly good start.