Simi Valley Can Finally Relax a Little

NEWHALL â€”  The Simi Valley High boys’ basketball team is enduring a holiday schedule that would make even the chubby guy in the sleigh wince.

The Pioneers, heavy in talent but appearing a bit heavy-legged in their ninth game in 11 days, outlasted Canyon, 65-48, on Saturday in a Hart tournament quarterfinal.

Simi Valley (11-2), ranked No. 1 in the region by The Times, will meet Sylmar, a 57-51 winner over W.F. West of Washington, on Monday in a semifinal.

All that means to the Pioneers is that they don’t have to play today.

“I want to rest,� said sophomore center Rafael Berumen, who shook off flu symptoms to collect 20 points and 10 rebounds.

“I’m so tired, all I want to do is sleep.�

Simi Valley appeared to sleepwalk through much of the first half, and led only 31-29 when Canyon’s Jerreme Suarez hit a 15-foot jumper midway through the third quarter.

The Pioneers then outscored the Cowboys (6-7), 17-4, over the last 3:15 of the period to take a 48-33 lead.

“I don’t think they thought we would give them such a battle,� said Canyon Coach Dave Humphreys, whose team will meet W.F. West on Monday in a fifth-place semifinal.

Actually, the Pioneers have come to expect a battle almost every time out.

“Everyone who plays us wants to play their best game,� said sophomore forward Brett Michel, who had 16 and four assists. “It’s our job to be ready for every challenge.�

Michel and Branduinn Fullove, who had 15 points, also are recovering from colds caught last week in Las Vegas at the Reebok Holiday Classic, where the Pioneers had to play five games in four days.

Suarez finished with 11 points, while Justin Orefice added 10 points for Canyon.

In other tournament games:

Sylmar 57, Washington W.F. West 51--Brandon Jacobs had 21 points and five steals and Joey Youman added 15 points, eight rebounds and three blocks for the Spartans (5-4) in a quarterfinal victory.

W.F. West (3-2), which overcame a 17-point deficit to Valencia on Friday night, trailed by 11 points in the fourth quarter before cutting the margin to 51-48.

Cleveland 81, Royal 47--The Cavaliers, ranked No. 5 in the region, took a 37-18 halftime lead and continued to roll in another quarterfinal.

Kent Dennis had 20 points, seven assists and five rebounds, Brian Smith collected 15 points and 10 rebounds and Quante’ Randolph added 13 points for Cleveland (10-3).

Dusty Cruz scored 13 points and Cam Dickson had 12 for the Highlanders (5-6).

San Fernando 75, Hart 59--The Tigers’ quarterfinal victory sets up a Northwest Valley Conference matchup in one semifinal.

The Tigers (12-1), ranked No. 3 in the region and the North Valley League favorites, face West Valley League kingpin Cleveland. The teams also meet on Jan. 14 in a conference game.

San Fernando’s Devin Montgomery made 11 of 16 shots from the field and finished with 31 points.

Guard Luis DeLaRosa had 13 points and Tyrone Purnell added 11 points and 13 rebounds.

Jerry Owens scored 16 points and J.T. Stotts had 15 points and five steals for Hart (6-6), which plays Royal in a fifth-place semifinal.

Glendale 65, West Bakersfield 63--The Dynamiters led by 14 at halftime, but needed an 18-foot jumper from Eddie Karibyan at the buzzer to win a consolation quarterfinal.

Glendale (7-6) will face Sanger, a 43-38 winner over Murphy, on Monday in a consolation semifinal.

Karibyan, a sophomore who began the season on the junior varsity, finished with 13 points. Teammate Ronald Baghomian had 26 points and eight rebounds.

Valencia 85, Beverly Hills 59--Jerrohn Jordan had 22 points and eight rebounds for the Vikings (10-3) in a consolation quarterfinal.

Fabian Leon added 15 points and 14 rebounds and Eskias McDaniel scored 13 points for Valencia, which meets Hollywood on a Monday in a consolation semifinal.

Hollywood 76, Bell-Jeff 71--Ruben Douglas scored 35 points and Mike West added 24, but the Guards (6-5) fell to the Sheiks (1-7) in a consolation quarterfinal.