MacLean’s Record 52 Spearheads Simi Valley

Just another night of basketball at Simi Valley High, where the Pioneers romped again, this time over the unfortunate Camarillo Scorpions, 104-71, in a Marmonte League game Friday night.

Yep, just another night where:

Simi Valley center Don MacLean scored a school-record 52 points on 17-of-21 shooting and 18-of-20 free throws, breaking Scott Simcik’s 1978 record of 51. The 18 free throws also tied Simcik’s 1978 record.

Simi Valley forward Shawn DeLaittre was ejected with 4:55 left in the third quarter for brutalizing Camarillo’s Frank Dews with an elbow to the head.

Six technical fouls were assessed by two busy referees. This included one sequence in which MacLean made two foul shots, stepped aside to let teammate Butch Hawking knock in four consecutive free throws from a double technical on Camarillo, then made a layup after the ensuing inbounds pass for an eight-point possession.

The Pioneers (21-3, 11-0) erupted with an outrageous 42-point third quarter to make a mockery of what was a 10-point game. And the Washington Redskins thought they had cornered the market on “The Quarter.”

And finally, Camarillo guard Sean Young quietly popped in 8 of 10 three-point shots and scored 31 points.

It may have seemed odd when Simi Valley Coach Bob Hawking left in MacLean to start the fourth quarter with the Pioneers ahead, 78-47. But MacLean was just five shy of the record. Hawking, of course, was cognizant of that and gave the senior the opportunity.

Any hard feelings, Camarillo?

“Hell, no,” said Scorpion Coach John Harbour, whose team fell to 9-11, 4-6 in league play. “The kid had a chance to break the record. How many times does a kid get that chance? I would have left him in.”

The wait was only three minutes. With 4:50 to play, MacLean dropped a four-foot spin hook to give him 52 and set off a shower of tissue from Pioneer fans.

At last, he could take a seat and a towel.

“The record feels real good,” MacLean said. “It’s something I’ve been setting my sights on.”