SAN BERNARDINO, CA. – There probably wasn’t all that much doubt in the outcome of this year’s 58th renewal of the San Bernardino Kiwanis Tournament.
Beaumont was the clear favorite to win.
One area newspaper called it a “scoring drought at the wrong time” for Redlands High School in its 10-point tournament championship loss to Beaumont High School, the 2012 Kiwanis champion.
There might have been a general feeling that the Beaumont-Redlands East Valley semifinals showdown was the true tournament championship.
It was a rematch of Beaumont’s season-opening Tip-Off Classic finals in early December when Beaumont stopped REV by three points in a thriller that went to the final seconds.
Proving that win was no fluke, the Cougars added a five-point win over the defending Southern Section 2A runner-up Wildcats (10-3) at the Kiwanis semifinals.
“That’s the championship for us,” said Beaumont coach Jon Florence.
In the Kiwanis semifinal, REV led 15-6 in the early stages, but that’s when Beaumont’s Darnell Eaves (20 points) started to roll. Eaves, who had 17 in the Kiwanis title game against Redlands, is a key to Cougar success, said Florence.
“I want to see him attack the basket more,” said Florence, “but he’s trying to play it unselfishly and facilitate. When he’s not on the floor, we definitely feel it.”
Beaumont’s Derrick Affor added 11 against REV.
Key moment in the semifinals: Beaumont center C.J. Clemons blocked Kim Aiken’s jumper – seen as a foul by REV’s bench, a non-foul on Beaumont’s side, and ruled a jump ball by the game officials. Aiken’s frustration drew a technical, Beaumont got two free throws and possession.
“I think everyone in the gym thought it was a foul,” said REV coach Bill Berich.
“I thought it was the play of the game,” said Florence. “Great timing, great body control. I thought it was a tremendous job of not fouling and taking them out of its game.”
As for Beaumont’s Kiwanis championship win over Redlands (7-6), it came down to solid defense.
Beaumont has a variety of defenders and the Terriers have only a little offensive spark. It was a hard-fighting Redlands squad, closing to within three points in the final quarter, that got Beaumont’s 3-2 zone – not a 2-3, says Florence.
It shuts down penetration and contains open three-point options.
Redlands, which trailed by 12 early in the second half, hit a 15-6 spurt to close the gap. Beaumont’s stifling defense held Redlands scoreless over a four-minute spurt.
Beaumont’s Collins Talley, the tournament MVP who had 12 points against REV, notched eight points against Redlands. Florence praised his defense. The Cougars’ defensive cornerstones may well be Derrick Affor and Clemons.
“Both of them get steals in the passing lanes,” Florence said. “C.J. gets out there so quick and fast. So does Derrick. They’re deadly out there.”
In the Cougars’ 13 victories so far this season, teams like REV, Yucaipa, King-Riverside, Temescal Canyon-Elsinore, Barstow, Murrieta Valley, Banning, Patriot-Riverside, Elsinore, Paloma Valley, San Gorgonio-San Bernardino and Redlands have been held to an average of 36 points.
The rules seem to be that if Beaumont holds a team under 50, the Cougars will win the game.
Here’s a portion of that evidence:
Semifinals score against REV: 53-48. The Wildcats’ three-point threat Brett Vansant (five points) was held to just one trey.
Finals against Redlands: 51-41. Izrael Tampubolon’s seven points was tops for the Terriers.
Defensive play rules in Beaumont’s surge to a never-before-seen start in its race to start Mountain Pass League play on Jan. 13.
“We have a chance to be 15-1 when we start league,” said Florence, a graduate of neighboring Yucaipa High School that played on scholarship at nearby Cal State San Bernardino.
“I don’t know if that’s ever been done before at Beaumont,” said Florence, noting the school’s 1988 Southern Section championship team finished 24-5 overall. Florence’s 2011-2012 team finished 22-3.
To reach that 15-1 start, the Cougars must beat Palm Springs (8-4) and Moreno Valley (3-9) in their two final non-league games.
As for the remaining Kiwanis finishes:
REV beat Norte Vista-Riverside for third place.
Consolation championship honors went to Ramona-Riverside (9-6) after stopping Serrano-Phelan by 11 points.
Winless co-host Arroyo Valley fell to 0-10 after losing by 11 points to Jurupa Valley (6-6).
Pacific-San Bernardino wound up 8-3 after beating area rival San G by 38 points.
Fifth place went to Summit-Fontana (10-4) after racing past city rival Fontana by 33 points.
