Simi Valley Lays Down Law in Absence of Bradshaw : Prep basketball: With coach suspended, Pioneers enlist legal help and beat Camarillo, 59-49.

SIMI VALLEY —  Got problems? Call a lawyer.

That’s what Simi Valley High athletic director George Ragsdale did when he needed someone to coach the Pioneer basketball team during Dean Bradshaw’s suspension.

Simi Valley lawyer Brian Saunders coached the Pioneers to a 59-49 Marmonte League victory over Camarillo on Friday night at Apollo High in Simi Valley.

Bradshaw was indefinitely suspended after he pushed senior reserve Sam Rodriguez to the floor during Simi Valley’s game Jan. 14. In a show of support for their coach, Bradshaw’s assistants refused to replace him, Ragsdale said.

In that event, Saunders seemed a natural choice, because he coached most of the players in youth basketball leagues. He also played for the Boston Celtics during the mid-1970s.

“He’s a great guy,” Simi Valley senior Nathan Simmons said. “He was our coach when we were little, so we have a lot of confidence in him.”

Saunders was assisted by Dave Detmer, a shop teacher at Simi Valley who coached the varsity at that school in the early 1970s. Detmer is currently the freshman girls’ basketball coach at Thousand Oaks.

Detmer said he was talked into taking the position by Ragsdale on Thursday.

“I guess I’m the faculty representative here,” he said.

Saunders was not approached until Friday morning. He did not have a practice with the team. Detmer had only a shoot-around with the Pioneers on Friday morning. Ragsdale ran Simi Valley’s practice Thursday.

Saunders said he and Detmer will coach the Pioneers again tonight against Newbury Park, a game postponed last week because of the earthquake.

“We’ll stay with them (tonight),” Saunders said, “and then hopefully they’ll get this thing resolved.”

Bradshaw did not attend the game, which was held at Apollo High, a continuation school, because Simi Valley’s gym was damaged by the earthquake. “Had he chosen to be here,” Ragsdale said, “he’d have been welcome.”

Despite the controversy, and the fact the earthquake prevented them from playing in two weeks, the Pioneers (13-5, 4-2 in league play) played a strong game.

Simmons led Simi Valley with 19 points and Vernon Simmons, no relation, added 15. Each scored six in the pivotal fourth quarter. Simi Valley trailed by one at the end of three quarters.

Camarillo (9-10, 5-4) was led by Kevin Nathaniel’s 13 points and Nathan Kaup’s 12.

“We had to prove we are still a team,” Nathan Simmons said, “no matter what the circumstances.”