Winter Notebook / Sean Waters : Label New Delivery ‘The Bradley Method’

Freddie Bradley of Hueneme High has taken the extra step to turn around his basketball game after improving his turnaround jump shot.

Bradley, a senior and an All-Ventura County football player, is competing in organized basketball for the first time. Early this season he would catch a pass with his back to the basket, jump, spin and shoot the ball in one motion.

“He was shooting a 180 every time,� first-year Coach Howard Davis said. “We worked on teaching him how to take a step and face the basket before making any of his moves. It was obvious against Alemany that he’s getting the hang of it.�

Bradley, who was known more for his scoring in football, had a team-high 17 points to lead Hueneme to a 69-47 victory Tuesday over Alemany. He had been averaging less than 7 points a game.

“It’s great coaching an athlete like Bradley,� Davis said. “Anything you tell him he’s hearing for the first time. He was missing free throws. I told to bend his knees and he starts making them.

“He thinks I’m a genius.�

More newcomers: Bradley, a 6-0 forward, is one of 3 Hueneme players making the transition from football to basketball. Mel Nunnery, a 5-11 junior guard, and Doug Brekke, a 6-3 senior center, are also playing basketball.

“Brekke has played before but not for a structured program like we have,� Davis said. “It’s almost like starting from scratch. Mel must have played basketball because you can’t tell he’s never been on a court before. With Bradley, you can tell it’s all new to him.�

Despite ar lack of experience, the trio have started at least once and are part of the 9-man rotation.

The sequel: Madness at Moorpark High returned for basketball junkies and insomniacs.

For the second consecutive year, the Musketeers held a 36-hour marathon practice beginning Tuesday. Play-until-you drop agenda included assorted basketball drills, a full-court game and was highlighted with 2 feature films.

“When I first heard about it I thought I didn’t want to waste 36 hours,� junior Robert Hernandez said Tuesday. “But I’m having a better time than I would watching television.�

Far-sighted shooters: Opponents are finding that to stop Buena’s offense, you have to guard the 3-point line and let the Bulldogs shoot free throws.

The Bulldogs (4-2) have made 28 of 81 3-point attempts (34.6%). Jeff Oliver has made 18 of 39 of those attempts (46.2%).

“A three-point shot is like a slam dunk,� Buena Coach Glen Hannah said, “it really fires up the team. We don’t have anyone who can dunk the ball, but we do have some long-range shooters.�

Buena, however, has trouble making free throws. Hannah estimated that his team has made less than 65% of its free throws. Oliver has made 18 of 31 (58.1%).

“I don’t know what the problem is,� Hannah said. “In Oliver’s case, he’s worries about it too much.�

Another Adkins admirer: Tami Adkins earned a most valuable player award and the respect of another coach in the Simi Valley tournament last week.

Adkins scored 17 points to lead Santa Clara to a 50-33 victory over Hart in the final. The Saints defeated Buena in the semifinals.

“Adkins is the best guard in the county,� Buena Coach Joe Vaughan said. “In terms of experience and court sense, she really has a feel for the game.�

Vaughan has had more than his share of talented guards but still lists Adkins in the top 5 ever to play in the county.

Double-dose of humility: Buena lost back-to-back games to Santa Clara and Simi Valley in the Simi Valley tournament. It might have been the first time the Bulldogs have lost consecutive games in school history and certainly is the first time in Vaughan’s 13-years at the school.

Keira Irwin hit 4 free throws in the last 24 seconds to give Simi Valley a 60-56 victory over the Bulldogs in the third-place game.

Santa Clara edged Buena, 44-40, in the semifinals to avenge an earlier loss to the Bulldogs.

Poor free-throw shooting contributed to the Bulldogs’ downfall. The Pioneers made 22 of 24; the Bulldogs were 10 of 17.

Buena made only 16 of 25 free throws against Santa Clara.

“We didn’t shoot well in the tournament, especially from the free-throw line,� Vaughan said. “We got impatient running our offense and we were missing layups and shots close in.�

Longer distance: She is the defending state champion in the 100- and 200-meter sprints, but Angela Burnham of Rio Mesa will compete in the 500-yard run, not the 60-meter dash, in the high school portion of the Sunkist Invitational indoor track meet at the Sports Arena on Jan. 20.

“I asked her if she wanted to run in the 60,� Rio Mesa Coach Brian FitzGerald said. “But Angela said she’d rather run the 500.�

Burnham, selected by Track and Field News magazine as the national female high school athlete of the year as a junior, may want to familiarize herself with longer distances because FitzGerald intends to enter her in the 400 in some invitationals in the spring.

“We’re not going to ignore the short sprints,� he said. “But I’ve always felt that Angela could run a very good 400.�

Though Burnham is the defending Sunkist 500 champion, she will not be favored. Also entered is Angela Rolfe of Dorsey, the defending state champion in the 400.