By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor It’s a good thing Pasadena is just up the block from the 210 Freeway, because coach Tony Brooks’ basketball team is always running at about 80 miles-per-hour. Pasadena got 27 points each from star juniors Darius Brown II and Bryce Hamilton and never allowed visiting Crescenta Valley to get into […]
By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor
It’s a good thing Pasadena is just up the block from the 210 Freeway, because coach Tony Brooks’ basketball team is always running at about 80 miles-per-hour.
Pasadena got 27 points each from star juniors Darius Brown II and Bryce Hamilton and never allowed visiting Crescenta Valley to get into their Pacific League contest Friday night.
The Bulldogs downed Crescenta Valley, 81-62, and moved to 9-0 in the Pacific League.
Brooks’ program has won 11 consecutive games and has a 3-game lead in league.
Pasadena got off to a 21-5 lead after one quarter and the Falcons (14-7, 6-3) never got closer than 12 points.
Darius Brown II couldn’t have been more efficient than he was. The star junior made 10 of his 13 field goal attempts. He also dished out a game-best 10 assists, grabbed 5 rebounds and had 4 steals.
“I feel like the team played well, and I played pretty good,” Brown II said. “My job is to be an extension of Coach Brooks on the court and get people going. We’re athletic and have great chemistry.”
Hamilton, or as the announcer referred to him after every basket, “B-Ham,” got his 27 on 10 of 17 shooting. He made 7 of his 8 free-throw attempts, had 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocked shots and 2 steals.
“We just played defense from the start,” Hamilton said. “We need to play “D” the entire game. Our offense is always clicking, but not always the defense. We’re all friends and have good chemistry, and have been playing together for a long time.”
Darius Mason scored 9 points and Justin Taylor 5, but it was freshman Davian Brown, younger brother of Darius that made the gym erupt.
Davian made a couple moves, drove to the basket and scored, and the Pasadena bench was so happy, they picked up a technical foul for their display of excitement.
Pasadena (16-5, 9-0) shot 52-percent from the field, made 5 of 13 of their 3-point attempts and 22 of 29 from the free-throw line.
The game was played very physically, especially on the CV side with two of the Falcons players fouling out in the third quarter.
“We came out and had a mind set of defense,” Brooks said. “The coaching staff worked hard at preparing us and it allowed us to get off to that good start. We were able to sustain that effort through the third quarter, but I was a little disappointed with our effort in the fourth quarter.”
The Bulldogs will host Arcadia on Monday at 5 as Pacific League play continues.
Box Score:
Crescenta Valley: 5-23-9-25-(62)
Pasadena: 21-24-15-21-(81)
Pacific League Standings:
Pasadena (16-5 overall, 9-0 in league)
Crescenta Valley (14-7, 6-3)
Muir (13-8, 6-3)
Burbank (15-6, 4-4)
Burroughs (11-9, 3-5)
Arcadia (10-10, 3-5)
Glendale (10-12, 2-7)
Hoover (7-14, 1-7)
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