From Top Clockwise: Hunter Woods, Tasson Aubry, Tiyon Martin, Simaine Stewart Jr., Haleem Jenkins, Omari Moore, Darius Mason, Darius Brown II, Tavian Percy, Bryce Hamilton. By BRIAN REED BAIOTTO, Sports Editor Friday has the potential to be a huge night for boys basketball and the city of Pasadena. Their two most iconic programs are one […]
From Top Clockwise: Hunter Woods, Tasson Aubry, Tiyon Martin, Simaine Stewart Jr., Haleem Jenkins, Omari Moore, Darius Mason, Darius Brown II, Tavian Percy, Bryce Hamilton.
By BRIAN REED BAIOTTO, Sports Editor
Friday has the potential to be a huge night for boys basketball and the city of Pasadena.
Their two most iconic programs are one win each from CIF Southern Section title game appearances.
Pasadena (22-6) will face off with Rancho Verde (22-9) in a Division 1 semifinal at Maranatha High School at 7.
Muir (23-7) will take a 105-mile bus ride to Santa Barbara and battle San Marcos (24-6) in a Division 2A showdown.
Both the Bulldogs and Mustangs are playing their best basketball, and in spite of being rivals, both schools are pulling for the other to win championships.
CIF hasn’t even designated a site for next weekend’s championship round, but an official suggested off the record on Tuesday that Azusa Pacific University was a likely location next Friday and Saturday.
Muir enters Friday’s game with postseason victories over Saugus, La Serna and Walnut.
The Mustangs outscored their three opponents by a combined margin of 214-158 and have won 18 of their past 20 games.
Simaine Stewart’s program has used a balance and camaraderie to take the program to new heights.
Stewart, himself, said before Pacific League play began, that one of the most key factors in Muir playing so well and together was a new-found closeness and a bonding that made each of his players not wanting to let down their brothers or the program itself.
While there are a number of contributors, 6-foot-6 forward Hunter Woods is their star,
Woods puts up 22 points and 11 rebounds each night for a Muir team that averages 67 points per game.
He’s also valuable in every facet of the game (steals, blocked shots, assists) but Woods’ ability to free up shots for teammates is perhaps his most important trait outside of scoring and rebounds.
Haleem Jenkins has led Muir is scoring in two (Saugus, Walnut) of their three postseason victories thus far.
The senior has 48 points in three playoffs games so far, and averages 14 points and 4 rebounds over the season.
Tiyon Martin is one of those athletes that exemplifies the saying about never being able to measure someone’s heart, because this kid is a game-changer.
The 5-foot-7 senior puts up 12 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds.
His partner in crime (and his stepbrother) Simaine Stewart Junior, combine for a very formidable backcourt.
Stewart continues to grind through sore ankles and still manages to contribute 8 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists.
Last but not least is their giant, otherwise known as Tasson Aubry.
The 6-foot-7 intimidator has been key to Muir’s historic run in ways you can but also ways you can’t see in a stat book, including altering shots throughout a game.
Aubry gives his program 11 points and 10 rebounds a night and is someone able to clog up the lane on the defensive end of the court.
San Marcos has won 14 consecutive games, including postseason victories over West Ranch, Highland and Cypress.
The Royals (24-6) average 72 points per game and have made 210 3-point baskets this season.
San Marcos is led by Jackson Stormo and Ryan Godges.
Stormo produces 17 points and 13 rebounds, while Godges puts up 16 points per night.
Godges leads the Royals with 110 3-point baskets.
Stef Korfas adds 12 points and 6 rebounds each night, and David Frohling pours in 11 points a game.
Muir is built perfectly for a road game this far from home and this deep into the bracket because of an even-keel nature and senior leadership.
The Mustangs got all 62 points last round from their seniors.
The closeness of this group and their easy-to-like personalities make this team a really special group to cover, not to mention the coaches and parents.
Obviously Muir wants to earn two more victories to become Division 2A champs, but even a loss Friday doesn’t necessarily end their season.
Typically, CIF-SS semifinalists are invited to participate in the CIF State tournament.
But that’s something they’re not even thinking about.
It’s all about San Marcos and hoping to have a happy and relaxing two-hour bus ride home from Santa Barbara.
Pasadena is the hottest team remaining in Division 1 with 15 consecutive victories.
The bracket has also opened up with the losses of No. 1 seeded Oak Park and No. 2 Harvard-Westlake, as well as PHS defeating third-seeded Damien on Tuesday night.
The Bulldogs, for all intents and purposes, haven’t really been challenged in the past 76 days.
Over that stretch, they’ve gone 15-0, and they have outscored their opponents, 1,243-766 or by an average of 83-51.
The closest being a 16-point victory over Arcadia on the night PHS point guard, Darius Brown II returned from injury back on January 5.
It might sound like hyperbole or fan-boy status, but watching Pasadena play often times is similar to what you might see on an ESPN Sports Center highlight reel because of their athleticism and high-paced scoring.
They are paced, as is the area, by Bryce Hamilton and his 27 points and 13 rebounds a night.
Hamilton has made 41 of his last 54 shots in the Bulldogs last three games and is also doing damage on the boards as well as with assists and steals.
Their point guard, as mentioned, is his team’s Tom Brady.
He is the best offensive facilitator in the area and Pasadena’s numbers since his return back that up.
Darius Brown II is scoring nearly 17 points and dishes out 12 assists per game, but he’s also averaging nearly 6 steals and 4 rebounds too.
DBII makes those around him better, and PHS has looked nothing short of unstoppable since his timely return back on Jan. 5.
Darius Mason might be the most under-appreciated player in the area.
The Bulldogs’ junior has upped his game and in the process, so has PHS.
Mason scores 11 points, grabs 8 rebounds and has 4 assists per game, along with things you can’t see on a stat sheet.
The X-Factor(s) in their success, as you might call them, are Tavian Percy and Omari Moore.
PHS has improved dramatically with the transfers from Miami, Florida and St. Francis High School, respectively.
Percy put his ego aside to be part of something bigger than himself and has been incredible with 13 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists, but his coach says his ability to shut down the other team’s best scorer is what makes him so special.
Percy is also a humble kid who just wants to do his part in helping PHS win a title.
Moore contributes 9 points and 5 rebounds off the bench.
His numbers, though, don’t go anywhere near describing his value or the spark he provides each time he enters the game for Pasadena.
Moore seems to always have at least a play or two each game that brings his teammates and a crowd to their feet, and he’s one of the brightest kids around.
From having written over the last 19 years in Long Beach, Orange County, the Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley, one of the most remarkable things I’ve seen is how much these two programs, their players and coaches respect and like one another.
It is far less common than one might think or hope, and that helps make Pasadena area basketball as special as it is.
Quotable:
Muir coach Simaine Stewart: “As for the game, we played a really aggressive preseason schedule for this moment. We traveled to Vegas and Damien, played where our opponents had the advantage so we know how to play on the road. San Marcos is disciplined, well coached, has an excellent post player, shooters so we have to play disciplined defense. We will need to limit them to one shot, get out on the break and create easy scoring opportunities. They have great crowd, so we need to eliminate early, so San Marcos can’t feed off their energy. Most of all, we need to play John Muir Basketball!”
Pasadena coach Tony Brooks: “They shoot the ball really well. They have really good guard play and shoot from the outside in running their offensive sets. Their wing players can shoot and they do an excellent job of running their system. On the defensive end, they slide their feet and keep you in front of them. They play a brand of defense that forces you to shoot a lot of shots from the outside. We have a wealth of things we can turn to and exploit, so we need to play efficiently.”
CIF-Southern Section Results:
Rancho Verde Postseason Results:
Feb 14: Rancho Verde 74, La Mirada 54
Feb 16: Rancho Verde 60, Harvard-Westlake 55
Feb 20: Rancho Verde 53, Roosevelt 43
Pasadena Postseason Results:
Feb 14: Bye
Feb 16: Pasadena 77, Loyola 47
Feb 20: Pasadena 88, Damien 75
Muir Postseason Results:
Feb 14: Muir 80, Saugus 61
Feb 16: Muir 72, La Serna 47
Feb 20: Muir 62, Walnut 50
San Marcos Postseason Results:
Feb 14: San Marcos 61, West Ranch 48
Feb 16: San Marcos 61, Highland 55
Feb 20: San Marcos 76, Cypress 67
State Ranking By MaxPreps:
Pasadena 20
Muir 39
San Marcos 51
Rancho Verde 57
Current Win Streaks:
Pasadena 15
San Marcos 14
Muir 3
Rancho Verde 3
League Finish:
Pasadena (13-1, first in Pacific League)
San Marcos (8-0, first in Channel League)
Muir (12-2, second in Pacific League)
Rancho Verde (8-2, second in Inland Valley League)
Offense:
Pasadena: 73 points per game
San Marcos: 72
Muir 67
Rancho Verde: 61
Potential Title Game Match Ups Next Weekend:
CIF Division 1: Pasadena-Rancho Verde winner vs Long Beach Poly-Chino Hills winner
CIF Division 2A: Muir-San Marcos winner vs Riverside Poly-Valencia winner
