By BRIAN REED-BAIOTTO, Sports Now Editor It was going to be a challenge regardless of opponent to shoot well on Saturday for Pasadena. The Bulldogs took on Rancho Christian of Temecula, a team ranked No. 8 in the state in the final round of the Tarkanian Classic. PHS was also without its star senior point […]
By BRIAN REED-BAIOTTO, Sports Now Editor
It was going to be a challenge regardless of opponent to shoot well on Saturday for Pasadena.
The Bulldogs took on Rancho Christian of Temecula, a team ranked No. 8 in the state in the final round of the Tarkanian Classic.
PHS was also without its star senior point guard Darius Brown II, who injured his ankle in Friday’s victory over George Washington.
And on top of all of that, the tip off was at a miserable 8 a.m.
Rancho Christian earned a 56-48 victory, and the Bulldogs finish their Las Vegas trip 2-2.
Bryce Hamilton had 18 points, but even the sure-shooting Hamilton made just 5 of 20 shots.
PHS shot just 37 percent for the game, making just 16 of 43 shots, which included a 6 of 17 effort from behind the 3-point arc.
Tavian Percy added 13 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds, and did so on 5-of-12 shooting.
Omari Moore finished with 11 points and team-highs with 4 rebounds and 4 assists.
Darius Mason took just one shot and didn’t score Saturday.
People might look too much into the fact that PHS is 4-3 after 7 games, because of how loaded they are with returning talent, and two key additions.
But keep in mind, they’re playing an incredible schedule to have them ready for not only Pacific League play, but also a CIF-SS playoff run.
In their three losses, the Bulldogs fell to No. 51-ranked in California Oak Park.
On Wednesday, they fell to Clark, ranked No. 2 in the state of Nevada, and then today, Rancho Christian is No. 8 in California and 40th in the nation.
They also, in the long run, will benefit from DBII being out today.
Obviously, they never want that, but down the road, if he finds himself in foul trouble or is injured again, PHS will be prepared and know what they have to do to make up for the absence of the area’s best point guard.
Pasadena coach Tony Brooks would be the first to tell you his team needs to rebound far better, and they certainly hope to have a much more balanced offensive attack.
But Brooks knows he’s got a diamond, and he has a couple weeks to make it shine before beginning league play.
And no area coach gets more out of his players than Brooks.
Pasadena will meet up with Corona Centennial (4-2) on Tuesday night at 7 in the first round of the Damien Tournament in La Verne.
Box Score:
PHS: 14-34-(48)
RC: 27-29-(56)
Records:
Pasadena (4-3); Rancho Christian (9-1)
PHS at Tarkanian Classic:
Wed: Clark 50, PHS 47
Thurs: Pasadena 65, Westbury Christian 53
Fri: Pasadena 67, George Washington 55
Sat: Rancho Christian 56, Pasadena 48
