Simi Valley’s Title Fortunes Could Rest With Sophomores

Rafael Berumen, Branduinn Fullove and Brett Michel have been instrumental in helping Simi Valley High post a 62-12 record over the last 2 1/2 seasons.

But the development of Shaun Michel and the addition of Dustin Villepigue could be the factors that help the Pioneers’ bid for the Southern Section Division I-AA title this season.

Simi Valley (14-2), the top-ranked team in the region by The Times, lost to eventual champion Artesia in the semifinals of the Division I-AA playoffs last year, but that was with Shaun Michel, an inexperienced freshman, starting at point guard.

The 6-foot-2 Michel is an inch or two taller and a vastly improved player this season, offensively and defensively.

“He’s just got a year’s experience now,” Coach Dean Bradshaw said. “You can’t coach that.”

Villepigue is a 6-8 sophomore whose improved scoring and rebounding have been instrumental in recent games.

“He’s obviously getting better,” Bradshaw said. “And I think he’ll continue to develop.”

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The luck was with Ryan Bradshaw, son of the Simi Valley coach, Monday night at Moorpark.

Ryan, leading scorer for the Pioneers’ junior varsity, was watching the varsity game when he decided to enter a 50-50 raffle. He won $41 and was so excited he tripped going up the bleachers.

Whether he spends the money on junk food or tapes, his father doesn’t care.

“I’m glad to see he won it,” Dean Bradshaw said.

Dean’s luck wasn’t too bad either. Simi Valley improved to 3-0 in the Marmonte League with an 89-70 victory over Moorpark.

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Johnathan Thompson of Palmdale, who broke his collarbone playing quarterback in the fall, has been slow to recover during basketball season. Thompson was cleared to play basketball Dec. 9.

But Thompson, the Falcons’ starting point guard, re-injured his collarbone and has been sidelined the last three weeks.

Thompson was most valuable player of the junior varsity last season.

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North Hollywood has emerged as one of the best teams at taking charging fouls. The Huskies have taken 37 charges this season, Jason McKissick and Eric Roller each with 12.

GIRLS’ NOTES

Already, Leslie Mui of Grant has had something of a career season.

Mui, a junior guard, became the Lancers’ career assist leader with seven in a game against Bell-Jeff earlier this season.

Mui, in her third varsity season, has 180 assists, ahead of former Grant standout Jonalee Baluyut, who had 165 from 1993-96.

Mui has moved into second place among Grant’s all-time scoring leaders. She has 668 points and trails Nakeisha Perkins, who had 960 points from 1995-98.

Mui’s play has helped Grant to an 8-7 record entering the Lancers’ Valley Pac-8 Conference opener today at Sylmar.

Staff writers John Ortega, Eric Sondheimer and Vince Kowalick and correspondent Lauren Peterson contributed to this notebook.