In one of three (!) semi-final games played in Corona (the others two being Norco versus Ocean View in boys Division II-A, and Norco versus Diamond Ranch at Santiago-Corona in girls Division II-AA), the Camarillo Scorpions faced the top-ranked (CIF Coaches' Poll) Centennial Huskies. The Camarillo student rooting section, known as "Bluezilla," turned out in force, as students, parents, and other fans made the 100-mile trip in three chartered buses. The Camarillo fans very nearly matched the turnout of the local Centennial faithful.

MaxPreps established the Huskies as 9-point favorites. Key match-ups were predicted to be 6' 6" Camarillo forward Gordon Galloway against 6' 7" Husky forward A.J. Chamberlain; 6' 6" Camarillo forward Dan Rasp against 6' 3" Husky forward Anthony Fuller; and 6' 1" Camarillo point guard Mike Diacos against 5' 6" Husky point guard J. R. Quillao.

The game opened with Fuller unexpectedly facing Rasp for the jump ball. Fuller tipped and then possessed the jump, which is a violation, and Camarillo controlled the ball on the turnover. A key early play occurred when the Huskies fed the ball to their all-league star, Chamberlain, who attempted to drive the baseline. Scorpion forward Galloway established good position, and in the resulting collision, which sent both players to the floor, Chamberlain was called for a charge.

Camarillo came out fast and established an early lead. Galloway knocked down 8 points in the first four minutes, Diacos completed a three-point play, and Rasp added a basket, as Camarillo opened a 13-5 lead at the 4:00 minute mark.

Centennial settled down, and behind the accurate shooting by their guards Quillao and Isaac Waters, pulled to within one point by the end of the quarter. Both Chamberlain and Galloway picked up their second personal foul in the quarter and spent time on the bench. Because Centennial was a deeper team, fouls to Camarillo's starters would prove to be more problematical. But when both were on the court, the big guys were at war.

The Huskies scored on their first two possessions of the second quarter to lead 23-20. But Camarillo guard Mike Tobin answered with a 15-foot jumper and Rasp added a rebound put-back for a 1 point Scorpion lead. The margin would continue to see-saw back and forth, with neither team able to establish more than a four-point lead. Rasp was particularly effective in scoring 10 points during the second quarter.

Both teams showed a great deal of hustle, determination, and athleticism. On one play, with about 1:30 left in the half, it appeared that Camarillo had tossed the ball away over their offensive baseline. But their active forward, Galloway, leapt over the line and sent a no-look pass through his legs back to Rasp, who in turn sent a skip pass to Alonzo on the opposite side of the hoop. Alonzo was fouled on the play and converted a free throw for his sixth point of the half, and Camarillo led 38-34 at the break.

Rasp had 14 points and Galloway had 8 points to lead the Scorpions at half. Diacos and Alonzo had 6 point apiece, while Tobin added 4. The Husky's Chamberlain was held to just 3 points at the half, but Centennial's guards, Waters and Shannon Sharpe in particular, were taking up the slack.

Sometimes, in focusing on the athletic event, people lose sight of the great support the cheerleaders give their teams. During time outs, the crowd was delighted by tumbling routines and death-defying tosses. At halftime, the Centennial song girls were dancing to a routine that the Camarillo girls evidently knew. A few of the Scorpions joined in, and at the conclusion of the performance, the crowd on both sides of the court gave their approval with their hearty applause.

Third quarter play continued in much the same manner as that of the second quarter. One team would score a couple baskets and the other team would then answer with a couple of their own. At the 6:20 mark, Alonzo drilled a three point set shot from the corner, as Camarillo regained the lead, 41-39. Rasp opened the lead to four points, but Chamberlain closed it back to two. When Galloway nailed a long three-pointer at the 4:45 mark, Camarillo opened its largest margin of the half, at 46-41.

However, the zebras were active with their whistles (in a very evenly refereed game), with Tobin and Galloway of Camarillo and Jose Perez of Centennial picking up their third personal fouls. With one minute remaining in the third quarter, Centennial would take the lead, 53-51. They would never relinquish it for the remainder of the game. Two quick Scorpion turnovers led to three Husky points, but Galloway's put back with three seconds cut the lead to 56-53.

A left-handed hook by Galloway to open the fourth quarter cut the Centennial lead to one, but when Tobin committed his fourth foul, both teams were in the bonus for the rest of the game. Chamberlain hit a trey, but Rasp answered by completing both halves of a 1+1. At the 5:06 mark, Centennial led by four points, 61-57, and it was still anybody's game.

But disaster hit Camarillo when Galloway was called for his fourth foul and went back to the bench. This allowed Centennial to double up on Rasp, who had been the dominant force under the Camarillo hoop. Camarillo got a sloppy with the ball and turnovers led to more Centennial points, and suddenly the Huskies had opened an eleven-point margin.

Galloway re-entered the game with just over three minute remaining and hit another left-hander. On the next play, the Camarillo forward made an acrobatic move to tip a Centennial pass and began a wild melee for the ball. For the next few seconds no team could grab the handle, until Centennial shoved the ball forward to Chamberlain, who put a stake through Camarillo's heart with an easy two.

Alonzo's second three-pointer from the corner would cut the Husky lead to 8 points with 1:05 left on the clock, but that is as close as the Scorpions would get. Camarillo was forced to foul to stop the clock, but Centennial converted on most of their attempts. When Galloway was called for his fifth foul at the 0:35 mark, he left the game to a standing ovation from the Scorpion faithful. As the game ended, the entire team Camarillo team was applauded by the Bluezillas and the rest of the Camarillo fans.

Centennial had prevailed in a hard-fought game, but Camarillo had left it all on the court and there were no regrets.

In the post mortem, Centennial won the game because of two important factors:

(1) The Husky guards were able to score when given open shots. The Camarillo guards got few good opportunities, and when they had good shots, the balls lipped in and out all night. Bryan Anger, the hero of the Righetti victory, hardly had a good look at the hoop during the entire game. Credit Centennial's well-coached defensive schemes and active play.

(2) Camarillo had a skinny bench. Although they brought 15 players to the game, five of those were up from the JV and Frosh-Soph teams. Camarillo effectively played the game with seven players. It was clear that by the end of the fourth quarter, they were spent.

Camarillo .... 20-18-15-11=64

Centennial .. 19-15-22-20=76

Dan Rasp – 21

Gordon Galloway – 19

Isaac Alonzo – 12

Mike Diacos – 6

Mike Tobin – 6

Isaac Waters – 19

A.J. Chamberlain – 17

Shannon Sharpe – 11

Anthony Fuller – 10

J.R. Quillao – 7

Trevon Villahermosa – 4

Andre Huagabrooke – 4

Daveaon Woods – 2

(at University of Pacific-Stockton)

Franklin- Tristan Armendariz 24, Josh Duckens 19

McClatchy- Jamal Thomas 13, Carson Mack 9

Franklin- Josh Duckens 12

McClatchy- Jamal Thomas 12

Sheldon- Calvin Otiono 18, David Peterson 11

Grace Davis- Jose Blanco 15, Brandon Stillwell 13

Sheldon- Marcus Jackson 6

Grace Davis- Brandon Robbins 10

Folsom- Tony Johnson 13, Luke Mazzanti 11

Golden Valley- Nick Guzman 9, Lo Saetern 8

Folsom- Luke Mazzanti 6

Golden Valley- Steven Diaz 7

Edison- Trey Gross 23, Trumaine Johnson 11

Elk Grove- Kyron Brown 19, Ryan Pearson 13

Edison- Willie Williams 6

Elk Grove- Ryan Pearson 11

5:30 p.m. Franklin vs. Sheldon

9:00 p.m. Folsom vs. Edison