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Boys Basketball: Muir Trio Has Mustangs Looking for CIF Title; Javonte James, Tiyon Martin, Hunter Woods Finishing Season Strong

Published on Friday, February 17, 2017 | 6:07 am
 

Muir had a couple hiccup’s along their journey through the Pacific League marathon.

The Mustangs (18-9) took league champion Pasadena to the wire, 69-66, in their first match up on Jan. 20.

But on the other end, they were swept by sixth-place Glendale.

Many outside of their gym were unsure as to what to expect as they headed towards the postseason.

Muir, though, showed the heart and tenacity of a champion by rebounding from a couple disappointing losses and winning 6 of their last 7 games.

They also locked up the No. 2 seed from the very tough Pacific League by sweeping Crescenta Valley (18-10).

The Mustangs have a loaded roster and they depend on so many players for contributions, but Hunter Woods, Javonte James and Tiyon Martin have played starring roles for coach Simaine Stewart.

Muir opened their CIF-SS Division 2-A playoff run Wednesday night with a 72-50 victory over Simi Valley.

Woods, Martin and James combined for 40 points, 30 rebounds and 13 assists.

The biggest victory of the day, though, came at 1:55 a.m. when Coach Stewart’s wife, Tracy, gave birth to a healthy baby girl, Payton Stewart.

Now, fast forward to Friday, Muir will take their high wire show to La Salle when the Mustangs and Lancers face off at 7 p.m. in a second-round match up.

La Salle is coming off a 47-39 home victory over Eisenhower in their first-round contest.

Fans and family of Muir should plan on getting to La Salle early, because it’s a small and one-sided gym, and with two Pasadena schools meeting up, the crowd will be much larger than the Eisenhower game that was nearly filled to capacity.

Woods could be considered the most rounded player on the Mustangs roster. He’s tall, quick, athletic and has a high basketball IQ.

The junior averages 15 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks per game.

Woods, though, is playing his best basketball of late, and is putting up monster numbers as the Mustangs enter ‘money time,’ and he’s scored in double figures 18 times so far.

“Hunter is our glue guy. He is second on the team in scoring with 15 per game. He leads the team with 13 rebounds a game. His ability to drain long 3’s makes it such a hard cover for most teams,” Stewart said.

Woods is confident, as he should be, but he’s also the first to admit failure and looks for ways to learn from his and the team’s setbacks.

“I am a guy on the team who does whatever needs to be done to win games,” Woods said. “I try to put my teammates in position to excel. I will score the ball, defend, rebound and block shots. My role is to be an all-around player and do anything I can to help us win games.”

Javonte James is incredibly talented as well.

The senior averages 15 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists per game, and he’s scored in double figures 17 times thus far.

“Javonte is the backbone/spine of the Muir program,” Stewart said. “He is a 3-year starter on varsity. He does all the small things that help good teams win. He rebounds, defends his position and takes the hard assignments when asked. Javonte leads our team in points.”

James knows, accepts and embraces his spot on a very athletic team.

“My role on the team is being a leader and being a scorer when I have to be,” James said. “Hunter and I get each other open shots and Tiyon does a great job of getting everyone involved. The Pacific League prepared us for the playoffs pretty well. It got us ready, because we dropped two games we shouldn’t have and that taught us not to come out slow. Like Hunter said, I think we’re capable of winning a championship. The only thing that will stop us from winning a championship is us. I think our focus is at a very high level, so we’re ready for anybody.”

They might be crosstown rivals, but there is nothing but respect from Pasadena coach Tony Brooks when it comes to the Muir basketball program.

“Javonte reminds me of Larry Johnson from UNLV and the Charlotte Hornets from the 1990’s,” Coach Brooks said. “He is undersized as a post player but his tenacity and footwork make him valuable as if he is 6’7?. Ultimately, he is a mismatch. Javonte is too quick for tall players and too strong for players his size.”

Tiyon Martin is a very savvy, athletic and cerebral point guard.

Martin averges 12 points, 7 assists and 2 rebounds per game, and he’s had at least 10 points 13 different times this season.

“Tiyon is the fuel that makes us go,” Stewart said. “His energy on both ends of the floor get all players ready to play. He is third on the team in scoring, but leads in assists with 7 per game and 2.5 steals per game. He takes and makes the big shot often for us.”

Said James: “Tiyon does a great job of getting everyone involved.”

Perhaps Martin’s greatest trait is caring much more about wins than he does about filling up a stat sheet. He’s all about ‘us” and not ‘I.’

“My role is to be a floor general, a leader and tenacious defender on anyone I am assigned to cover by my coach,” Martin said. “Hunter and Javonte make my job easier when they get going and everyone is focused on them, and they kick it out to me. I have to make the open jump shot, or vice versa.”

The Mustangs exceptional trifecta can take over a game, but the Mustangs aren’t just a three-man team.

Eric Hollins scores 10 points and grabs 5 rebounds per game, and Simaine Stewart Jr., averages 7 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds each night.

While Stewart and the Mustangs are peaking at the perfect time, and what’s scary for opponents is Muir will return Woods, Martin, Stewart and three others.

But for now, nothing else matters to the Mustangs than their 7 p.m. tip off at La Salle Friday night.

Quotable:

Coach Simaine Stewart: “The three of them make up the core of what we do. We try and pressure without fouls, turn teams over and double their scoring attempts. Each guy has a different role.”

Hunter Woods: “Tiyon makes my job easier by his ability to break down defense’s, and cause attention to him, so I get open rhythm shots. Javonte makes my job easier on the boards, because of his strength to box people out and draw double teams, so he gives great kick-out passes. The Pacific League prepared us well because we faced all kinds of teams, and we have lost to bottom feeders, and that taught us to never underestimate our opponents. It also prepared me because I was challenged to play against Bryce Hamilton, who is one of the best guards in the area. If we play our best every night, we have a good chance at winning a championship.”

Tiyon Martin: “When I get going, they (Hunter and Javonte) make it easier by getting into the passing lanes for me to deliver an easy shot. With them making shots, it makes their player not be able to help as much , because we can all score the ball. The Pacific League helped us prepare for this by having to bounce back from a couple bad losses. We came back as a family and got back on track. We control our own destiny.”

Pasadena Coach Tony Brooks: “What makes John Muir so tough to beat is the fact that they can hurt you in so many ways. Hunter Woods is a talent. Great shooter from the outside is only the beginning. Here recently decided to dominate the boards. Two games in a row he has totaled 17 rebounds. He is often a mismatch for teams because of his length at 6’6? and yet he has guard skills. Javonte reminds me of Larry Johnson from UNLV and the Charlotte Hornets from the 1990’s. He is undersized as a post player but his tenacity and footwork make him valuable as if he is 6’7?. Ultimately, he is a mismatch. Javonte is too quick for tall players and too strong for players his size. Tiyon is a quiet assassin. It’s funny, after a game as an opposing coach you reflect on the fact that you thought your team did a great job containing him only to realize he filled the stat sheet with double digit points, a number of assists and nearly as many steals. Super quick, very talented but also a student of the game. You can tell he is the son of a coach because he does things that you can’t teach in years of practices. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up breaking college assist records. I’m glad I only have to face him two more times!!”

Pasadena Point Guard Darius Brown II: “They play together and they love competition just as much as my team and I. Their success comes from their hard work and commitment to the game.”

Getting To Know Javonte, Hunter & Tiyon:

Javonte James:
Favorite Player: Draymond Green
Favorite Movie: Road To Glory
Favorite Artist: Kanye West
Person I’d Most Like To Talk To (Living Or Dead): Michael Jordan
Most Embarrassing Artist On My Ipod: Mindless Behavior, My Girl

Tiyon Martin:
Favorite Player: Isaiah Thomas, Kyrie Irving, Allen Iverson
Favorite Movie: He Got Game & Love And Basketball
Favorite Artist: Drake
Person I’d Most Like To Talk To (Living Or Dead): Allen Iverson
Most Embarrassing Artist On My Ipod: Mindless Behavior, My Girl

Hunter Woods:
Favorite Player: Kobe Bryant
Favorite Movie: He Got Game
Favorite Artist: Drake
Person I’d Most Like To Talk To (Living Or Dead): Michael Jackson
Most Embarrassing Artist On My Ipod: Keyshia Cole

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