By BRIAN REED-BAIOTTO, Sports Editor There was everything you could hope for at Maranatha around 8 p.m. on Friday night when Pacific League titans Pasadena and Muir met up for the first of two games this season. Muir entered with a one-game lead, and were on an 8-game winning streak before tip off. But on […]
By BRIAN REED-BAIOTTO, Sports Editor
There was everything you could hope for at Maranatha around 8 p.m. on Friday night when Pacific League titans Pasadena and Muir met up for the first of two games this season.
Muir entered with a one-game lead, and were on an 8-game winning streak before tip off.
But on Friday, it was all Pasadena.
The Bulldogs shot 60-percent from the field on 33 of 55 shooting.
They had 30 assists to just 7 turnovers and had a 24-point advantage from beyond the 3-point line.
That all added up to an 81-62 victory for PHS, and the Bulldogs and Mustangs now share the top spot in the Pacific League with 7 regular season games to play.
Darius Brown II, who has been back for just two weeks after tweaking his ankle was brilliant.
DBII led Pasadena with 21 points on 8 of 12 shooting, and he had a game-high 12 assists.
Brown also converted on three 3-point shots in 4 tries.
Pasadena used their size, length and up-tempo defense to get out to a big lead and the Mustangs were never really able to mount a comeback.
Hunter Woods was outstanding for Muir.
The senior forward had game-highs with 22 points and 16 rebounds.
Woods blocked 4 shots and dished out 3 assists, and after the game, in classy style, credited Pasadena for playing well, and promised his brothers would learn from the setback.
Bryce Hamilton finished with 16 points and the future UNLV Runnin’ Rebel blocked a game-best 8 shots and also had 5 rebounds.
Darius Mason has quietly but with force picked up his game immensely since the beginning of league play, and did so when Bulldogs needed him most.
Mason chipped in 14 points on 6 of 7 shooting, had a team-high 6 rebounds and finished with 7 assists.
Tasson Aubry had a great game as well.
The 6-foot-8 Muir senior tied teammate Hunter Woods with a game-best 22 points, as well as 8 rebounds, 2 blocked shots and 2 assists.
Tiyon Martin, the Mustangs’ point guard had 11 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals.
A pair of PHS transfers were huge for the Bulldogs.
Omari Moore had 13 points on 5 of 6 shooting, including two highlight-style dunks, and 5 rebounds. He also dished out 4 assists.
And Tavian Percy finished with 11 points and 4 rebounds.
His father, Terry, surprised him by flying in from Miami and Tavian didn’t let him down.
The senior had 4 assists, made three 3-point baskets, and had a nice dunk to get the student section on their feet.
Simaine Stewart Junior showed heart, as the senior guard played injured for Muir (and his father, who is the head coach), and had 6 points, an assist and one rebound.
The only thing Pasadena didn’t do particularly well was a 4-of-9 effort from the free-throw line, and a needless technical foul.
But other than that, it was PHS from start to finish.
Both the Mustangs and Bulldogs play 6 Pacific League games before they meet up on February 8 at Muir, and it’s likely the outright league championship will be on the line.
PHS will host Crescenta Valley on Tuesday at Marshall High School at 7, and with the hopes of avenging their lone Pacific League loss thus far.
Muir hopes to bounce back Tuesday when they host Glendale at 5, as the second half of league play gets under way.
For highlights, including interviews with both coaches, and Muir’s Hunter Woods, and PHS’ Darius Mason, Darius Brown II, Bryce Hamilton and Tavian Percy, please watch our video above.
Muir scoring: Hunter Woods 22, Tasson Aubry 22, Tiyon Martin 11, Simaine Stewart 6, Jalen Johnson 1.
PHS scoring: Darius Brown II 21, Bryce Hamilton 16, Darius Mason 14, Omari Moore 13, Tavian Percy 11, Jesse Watkins 5, Kalonji West 2.
Box Score:
MHS: 9-14-18-18-(62)
PHS: 19-26-18-18-(81)
Records:
Muir (14-6, 6-1); Pasadena (13-6, 6-1)
Friday’s Pacific League Scores:
Pasadena 81, Muir 62
Crescenta Valley 77, Arcadia 68
Glendale 72, Hoover 44
Burbank 61, Burroughs 46
Pacific League Standings Through Jan 19:
Muir (14-6, 6-1)
Pasadena (13-6, 6-1)
Crescenta Valley (12-8, 5-2)
Glendale (15-5, 3-4)
Burbank (13-7, 3-4)
Arcadia (6-8, 3-4)
Burroughs (11-8, 2-5)
Hoover (4-16, 0-7)
