Daily Pilot Boys’ Basketball Dream Team
BY MATT SZABO STAFF WRITER
APRIL 7, 2023 6:44 PM PT
Jeff Berokoff | Pacifica Christian Orange County
Pacifica Christian (27-10) has had a varsity program for seven years, with Berokoff in charge for all of that time. What the Tritons have built in that period is remarkable. With an enrollment of 279, the small school tucked away not far from Hoag Hospital has become an Orange County powerhouse. This year's team was ranked tops in the county for part of the season and won the San Joaquin League title, its first outright league crown in program history, before advancing to the Division 2AA semifinals and all the way to the state Division II title game in Sacramento. Credit Berokoff for doing this by preaching togetherness, on a team where nobody scored more than 12 points per game.
G | Pacifica Christian Orange County | Sr.
Though Pacifica Christian had a balanced scoring attack, it was led by Strauss, who also did many other things well for the Tritons. The San Joaquin League MVP, a 6-foot-4 point guard, averaged team-bests of 11.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game. But Berokoff could be as proud that Strauss, who constantly sacrificed his body, finished his two years at Pacifica Christian with a program-record 62 charges taken. His 176 assists, 98 steals and 41 charges taken this year were also program single-season records. Strauss, a repeat first-team Dream Team selection, is bound for Northwestern University.
G| Pacifica Christian Orange County | So.
A dynamic 6-foot-4 combo guard, Spillman looks like he will be a budding star next year for the Tritons. He also did plenty this year as a sophomore, though, with averages of 9.7 points and 2.9 assists per game. Spillman's block on Orange Lutheran's Zion Paleo in the closing seconds of the CIF State Southern California Regional Division II championship game helped Pacifica Christian secure a dramatic 52-51 win and advance to its first state title game. He was a second-team All-San Joaquin League selection.
F Alex Stewart, Pacifica Christian Orange County, Jr.