Note: Here’s a longer, different version that didn’t make Tuesday’s paper.
PASADENA — Steven Adams made a triumphant return since brain surgery nearly one year ago, scoring nine points with one steal and one block to lead top-ranked Pasadena to a dominating 79-29 victory over Van Nuys on Tuesday night in the first round of the Rose City Classic.
Adams, a senior, received the loudest ovation during pregame introductions and scored Pasadena’s (1-0) first basket. Adams, a 6-foot-10 center, didn’t appear to miss a beat. If anything Adams appeared to have a quicker step to his game. He launched a three-pointer, made a block and scored off the glass on consecutive plays to give Pasadena a 45-13 lead with 3:26 left in the second quarter.
Adams played in his first game since undergoing 10 hours of brain surgery in February to remove a mass behind his right eye that put pressure on the brain, and at one point forced a self-induced coma.
“He looked good,” Pasadena coach Tim Tucker said. “It wasn’t much of a challenge out there, but to see him move and knock down the three and see his post up game showed me he’s back. I have him at about 85 percent but hopefully he can get the 15 percent before the Christmas tournaments so we can have him back at 100 percent.”
Pasadena (1-0) will host L.A. Jordan (1-0) in the second round Thursday night at 8.
Pasadena may have lost two big men in 6-foot-10 center Joe Henson, now at San Jose State, but the Bulldogs are just as physical inside and fast playing half-court defense. In fact, the Bulldogs had eight steals in the first half and forced Van Nuys (0-1) to nine turnovers in the first half.
The bench also showed some signs of brilliance, led by 6-foot-4 freshman forward Brandon Jolley who scored 10 points.
“I can only say so much about how good that kid’s gonna be,” Tucker said. “The upside to that kid is incredible. He’s great inside and shows how good outside, too. We talked about losing the big men, but also having him inside is going to be good, especially with how we think he’s going to develop. That will definitely boost our post presence.”
