SoCalHoops High School News

CIF-SS Boys D-IA Finals Preview:
Mater Dei v. Simi Valley--(Mar. 4, 2000)

Who:  No. 1 Mater Dei (31-1) v. No. 3 Simi Valley (28-3)
Where: The Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim
When:  8:45 p.m.
What:  CIF Southern Section Division I-A Championship

We're pressed for time today, so we're just going to give you the preview contained in the official CIF program materials, written by Thom Simmons, CIF Southern Section sports information officer.  Here's what Tom had to say about the finals (with a couple of additions from us):

With a field of 312 teams now narrowed down to 18, nine titles will be awarded in the 2000 version of th eCIF Southern section Boys Basketball Championships.  There will be those looking to repeat and those hoping to make history for their schools. There are traditional powerhouses, and those beginning traditinos.  When play begings at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim and at Gersten Pavilion at Loyola Marymount University, not only with Southern Section Champions be crowned, but teams will be looking for momentum to carryinto the CIF Sttate Boys Basketball Championships. Here's a closer look at these exciting matchups:

The Divsion IA title matchup features another No. 1 versus No. 3, as nationally-ranked Mater Dei takes on a tough Simi Valley squad.  Perennial power Mater Dei will again battle for a Southern Seciton divisional crown, its 13th in school history and ninth in the past 11 years.  The Monarchs, coached by Gary McKnight, bring a 27-2 record and a No. 11 ranking in th ecountry according to USA Today, into th efinal.  The Serra League Champion has defeated Mark Keppel (111-56), Thousand Oaks (90-43), Victor Valley (79-55), and Pacific (72-64) in this year's tournament.  Forward Jamal Sampson is averaging 16 ppg and Steve Scoggin and Cedric Bozeman are both averaging 14 ppg, and despite the loss of the two Soderberg brothers, freshman Harrison Schaen has stepped in with great defensive play.

Simi Valley, Marmonte League Champoins and the No. 3 seed are looking for their first title since 1988 when Don MacLean was on the team.  Coach Christian Aurand's team is led by Branduinn Fullove (24 ppg) adnn Brett Michel (20) ppg, and notwithstanding the recent turmoil with Shaun Michel quitting the team, the Pioneers are playing better than ever.  They've beaten Nogales (108-54), Garey (81-77) Villa Park (66-51) and Rancho Verde (77-58), and this will be a great game.

No time for rosters. . . really, time is getting short for us, so here's just another look at the bracket. 

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