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Even though they had gotten off to a slow start, when Blake Hamilton threw down a slam dunk in the second quarter and Ajon Efferson hit a three you got the feeling it was over. Pasadena had committed a ton of turnovers and missed even more shots and the Bulldogs were still up by ten at halftime.<\/p>\n
They were simply too athletic and too big for Arroyo Grande. The truth is had they played a perfect game they would have won by 30.<\/p>\n
The prevailing feeling in the interview room was that the Bulldogs wanted Damien, who had been ranked number one by most websites all year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really wanted a shot at Damien,\u201d said Pasadena Coach Tim Tucker. \u201cBut when Arroyo Grande beat them we knew how good they were.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brandon Jolley, who led all scorers with 18, also said he wanted a crack at Damien, but when he heard he was going to be matched up with a 6\u20195\u201d \u201cFootball Player\u201d in Arroyo Grande\u2019s Brent Vanderveen he took it as a personal challenge.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t expect Pasadena\u2019s championship run to be a one hit wonder. Efferson, Jolley, Perris Hicks, DeAngelo Stowers, and Freshman Jeffrey McClendon are all back next year and ready for a repeat performance. Pasadena loses key players in Hamilton and John Haywood, but make no mistake, the Bulldogs are loaded.<\/p>\n
While watching the Pasadena put it away in the fourth quarter I couldn\u2019t help thinking\u00a0about Muir. There\u2019s no doubt in my mind that the Mustangs would have flattened Arroyo Grande or any other team not named Pasadena in Division 3AAA. A matchup between Muir and Pasadena in the playoffs would have been classic.<\/p>\n
Anaheim Convention Center was a nice setting for a CIF Basketball Final. There was grubb in the press room and
\nTucker and all five Pasadena\u00a0starters were made available to the media in an interview room after the game. The only thing I would ask for next year is that a power outlet is available on press row. The seats behind the baseline were cool but my laptop went dark\u00a0in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n
If you get a chance check out Duane Barker\u2019s picture of Hamilton\u2019s jam on our site. Incredible shot!<\/p>\n
For Tucker it was his fourth CIF title overall. He won two as a player for Pasadena in the seventies and has now won two as a coach.<\/p>\n
Who said winning a CIF title is hard? For Efferson, it was his second straight CIF title. He won one last year for Taft (Woodland Hills) as a freshman.<\/p>\n
After Pasadena\u2019s victory, Mayfair got 20 points from Dion Wright and his younger brother Brian scored 13 to lead the Monsoons to a 60-45 win over Righetti in the 2A Championship game. Mayfair was down eight early before blitzing Righetti 24-5 in the second quarter. The Monsoons ran the Suburban League table before completing their title march.<\/p>\n
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Okay basketball is over now it\u2019s on to baseball. Well maybe eventually but how about some football first. Former Alhambra DC Jacob Ochoa, once a candidate for the HC positions at Alhambra and La Canada, has accepted an assistant coach position at Glendale College.<\/p>\n
El Rancho and Schurr have decided on their coaches but Keppel could still be weeks away from hiring a new HC. Mt. View
\nhas turned down several applicants and has been rejected by others. The Vikings could be close to naming a new coach but other reports suggest it could be awhile.<\/p>\n
As for La Canada? The names we were hearing are no longer on play. Matt Koffler?<\/p>\n
That\u2019s my principle.<\/p>\n