Sufi Hoping for Another Title in Family

Mater Dei point guard Imran Sufi views his participation in the state boys’ basketball playoffs as a family birthright.

His brother, Kamran, now a Mater Dei assistant coach, played on the Monarchs’ 1990 state championship team and was a starting guard in 1992 when they finished second in the state. He attended St. Mary’s.

Imran’s turn comes Saturday, when Mater Dei (34-3) plays Oakland Fremont (28-4) in the Division I title game at 8 p.m. at Sacramento’s Arco Arena.

“I cheered when they won in 1990 and I cried when they lost in 1992,” Imran Sufi said. “I don’t want that. I told myself I wouldn’t go out that way.”

For a good portion of this season, Imran Sufi watched from a seat on the bench next to his brother.

Three weeks ago Sufi was called on to replace Cedric Bozeman, whose injured knee in the second round of the Southern Section playoffs knocked him out the remainder of the season.

Bozeman, an All-South Coast League selection who averaged 11.5 points and 5.6 rebounds, played at point guard and at shooting guard, sharing duties with Steve Scoggin. With those two in the lineup, Sufi had to be content as a reserve.

But when Bozeman hurt his knee late in the first half of Mater Dei’s 64-48 victory at Villa Park, Sufi, a senior, got the call.

He hasn’t disappointed and the Monarchs have won 16 in a row. Sufi is making 40% of his three-point shots, averaging 3.1 assists and perhaps most importantly, averaging a little more than one turnover per game.

“He has really stepped into the role big time,” forward Mike Bayer said. “He is calm under pressure, a great point guard. I think a lot of opponents underestimate him, but he has a big heart, both on and off the court.”

Sufi says he learned a lot watching his brother play and has always kept himself prepared for the moments when he has had to step in.

Early in the season in a Las Vegas tournament game, Sufi came into the game late and made the shot that defeated Compton Dominguez, a powerhouse that faces Sacramento Grant in the state Division II final Friday.

Another time, with Bozeman on the bench in foul trouble, Sufi’s driving baseline shot late in the game against Capistrano Valley capped an 18-point Monarch comeback. The shot tied the score in regulation and Mater Dei went on to win in double overtime.

“He’s had some really fine moments for us,” Coach Gary McKnight said. “As the playoffs have come along, he’s done very well too.”

McKnight said he hasn’t been surprised by Sufi’s accomplishments.

“When he was a sophomore I wanted him to take the point guard role and he wasn’t ready for it,” McKnight said. “Last year, I offered it to him and he was ready. He was there at the point this season when we needed him, and I’m glad he was there. We wouldn’t have gotten this far without him.”

Kamran Sufi has been pleased by his brother’s progress.

“He has created a name for himself by doing a great job,” Kamran said. “When he is done here, he will always be known as Imran Sufi, not just Kamran’s little brother.”

Bayer said Imran Sufi could have chosen to bail out any time and done well someplace else.

“He could go to any other school and be a big-time point guard for them,” Bayer said.

But Sufi wanted to remain a Monarch.

“I think this is one of the best seasons Mater Dei has ever had, considering everything we have been through, injuries and illnesses,” Sufi said. “Our players are all role players. Everyone off the bench can start and if they do, they will play their best game.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Prep Basketball

* What: State championships

* When: Friday and Saturday

* Where: Arco Arena, Sacramento

* Friday’s session: 2:30 p.m.--Girls’ Division V: Palos Verdes Chadwick (30-5) vs. Los Altos Hills Pinewood (30-1); 4:15--Boys’ Division V: Oxnard Santa Clara (29-3) vs. Modesto Calvary Temple (32-5); 6:15--Girls’ Division II: Brea Olinda (31-3) vs. Pleasanton Amador Valley (30-2); 8:15--Boys’ Division II: Compton Dominguez (32-3) vs. Sacramento Grant (34-2).

* Saturday’s early session: 9:15 a.m.--Girls’ Division IV: Calvary Chapel (29-5) vs. Atherton Sacred Heart Prep (29-6); 11--Boys’ Division IV: L.A. Verbum Dei (26-7) vs. Sacramento Christian Brothers (27-8); 12:45 p.m.--Girls’ Division III: North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake (28-5) vs. Lafayette Acalanes (29-4); 2:30 p.m.--Boys’ Division III: El Cerrito (31-3) vs. Easton Washington (27-4).

* Saturday’s late session: 6 p.m.--Girls’ Division I: L.A. Palisades (29-4) vs. San Jose Archbishop Mitty (30-0); 8:15--Boys’ Division I: Mater Dei (34-3) vs. Oakland Fremont (27-4).

* Tickets: $8-25 for each session; sold at gate and through Ticketmaster; $10 loge tickets also available today at participating schools--at Brea Olinda until noon, at Calvary Chapel until 4 p.m. and at Mater Dei until 2:30 p.m.