By Corey Kwok
(Pasadena) – Pasadena was an overwhelming force, as last year’s CIFSS Finalist and CIF State So Cal regional semifinalist Bulldogs tipped off their 2010-2011 campaign with an 84-17 pounding of visiting Arleta at the Tom Hamilton Gymnasium in the showcase portion of the Rose City Round Ball Classic Wednesday night.
Second-year senior Steven (Sckoopy) Adams, who two years ago underwent brain surgery and missed a great portion of his junior year athletically and academically, was granted a hardship waiver by CIF State to repeat his senior year after appealing a CIF Southern Section ruling that had initially denied his claim. The 6 foot 10 wing-forward had eight points and 11 rebounds.
Todd Lewis Jr. scored 15 to lead the way and highlighted that with a pair of fast-break slams off consecutive Adams steal-and-passes as PHS opened up an enormous lead in the first frame. Seven Bulldogs lit up the scoreboard – including Adams, Lewis, Austin Daniels, Carl Robinson, Nick Holden, Alex Nazerian, and Brandon Jolley. Robinson came through off the bench and finished with 13, having all three trey tries splash.
Four Bulldog players in all – Adams, Holden, John Haywood, and Brandon Jolley – shared the calculating blitz with eight points each.
Pasadena finished 33 of 61 from the field (7 of 11 from three point land) and outrebounded their opponents 44 to 11 (31 to 6 in first half). The Bulldogs’ lead grew as wide as the Pacific Ocean with a 31 point tsunami in the third stanza.
Simon Ezra, a promising overseas transfer from Sweden, where he was captain of the junior national team, hit a trey from the corner and elsewhere contributed two boards, an assist, and steal in limited play.
Arleta 4 7 4 2 – 17
Pasadena 24 20 31 13 – 84
A: Camryn Jones 6, Ruben Jaime 5, Jose De Guzman/Kevin Cabrera/Erick Mora 2-ea.
P: Lewis Jr. 15, Robinson 13, Adams/Holden/Haywood/Jolley 8-ea., Blake Hamilton 7, Austin Daniels/Chris Hanayan 5-ea., Ezra 3, Alex Nazerian 2, Brandon Porter 2
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