Boys Basketball Athletes of the Year: Two-pronged attack

If you ask opposing coaches what made the Serrano boys basketball team so dominant, you’ll likely get a two-part answer.

Senior guard James Tonic and junior forward Jamaal Franklin were essential elements for the Diamondbacks as they went undefeated in the Mojave River League for the fourth straight year and advanced to the quarterfinals of the CIF playoffs.

And while the honor is usually reserved for only one player, Franklin and Tonic are the 2008 Daily Press Boys Basketball Co-Athletes of the Year.

Taking one of them out of the equation would have dealt a serious blow to Serrano’s chances at a fourth-straight MRL title.

“Having two guys, it’s hard to key on one,” Serrano coach Mike Browning said. “If (opponents) focused on James it would open things up for Jamaal, and vice versa.”

Franklin, who stands 6-foot-5 and has deceptive speed to go with a good jump-shot, has flashier stats: He averaged 22.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.1 steals and two blocks per game.

Tonic, a 6-foot-1 guard/forward, has numbers that are nothing to scoff at either, averaging 17 points, 4.5 assists and 2.6 steals per game. But arguably his leadership and team-first attitude were even more important. That’s what persuaded the Mojave River League coaches to vote him the league MVP, and his unselfish play got the attention of coaches outside the league as well.

“Somebody’s got to get Jamaal the ball,” Barstow coach Mark Hassell said. “Tonic was a great ball-handler and could stretch the defense as a shooter, and he played great defense.”

Franklin, meanwhile, is an electrifying presence on the court, able to score on just about anyone.

“Jamaal brings energy and excitement,” Tonic said. “He plays with heart all the time. ... And a big man who can shoot is always good.”

Together, they filled the void left by Serrano’s departed 2007 stars, Harrison Gaines and Durrell Norman. The 2008 Diamondbacks finished a perfect 8-0 in the MRL, stretching the program’s league winning streak to 32 games, and Serrano won two playoff games to advance to the CIF quarterfinals for the second straight season. They lost to Cathedral City in the quarters, ending the deepest playoff run for any local team this season.

Franklin regrets getting into early foul trouble (including a technical) in the Cathedral City game. The game was tied before he was forced to sit out several minutes in the first half, and the D’backs ended up losing 102-79. Franklin’s energy and emotion can sometimes hurt him as much as they help him.

“I need to work on not talking to the refs,” Franklin said. “I talk to the refs a lot during a game.”

He’s also working on his speed, and he said he hopes to be a guard at the college level.

Tonic will go on to play at a junior college (he hasn’t decided where yet) and hopes to transfer to a four-year school. He ends his high school career with 91 victories, making him the winningest player in team history.

But he’s not protective of his legacy. He believes Franklin and Serrano can go right on winning after he’s gone.
“Personally,” Tonic said, “I think they’ll be 8-0 again.”

Kris Reilly is the sports editor of the Daily Press. He can be reached at kreilly@vvdailypress.com or at 951-6274.