High school basketball: High-scoring Ladine leads Burton - SFGate
Clayton Ladine ’s basketball dreams were shattering last spring. Only months after a disappointing junior varsity season at Riordan High — where he had been demoted from starter to reserve — he was told he hadn’t been chosen to play on an AAU team. “The next morning I remember watching reruns of 'The Office,’ my favorite show,” Clayton said. In one season, the floppy-haired 6-foot-1 junior guard has gone from JV backup and AAU castoff to being the state’s leading scorer — and No. 3 in the nation — at 37. 8 points per game for Burton. He’s scored at least 40 points a dozen times, more than 50 three times, including a season-opening 51 against Lincoln, and a career-high 63 versus Jordan on Jan. His scoring average is the highest in Bay Area history, according to Cal-Hi Sports, surpassing the 36. 7 by the late Winters Patterson (Balboa) in 1996. The state record is 45. 7 by Mike Fisher of Southwestern-San Marino (Los Angeles County) in... The Pumas, 1-18 last season, are 18-7 this season and went 10-0 to win the Academic Athletic Association ’s Division II championship. They open the San Francisco Section playoffs Friday at Washington (24-6) at 5:30 p. m. “It’s been a perfect storm of events,” Ladine said. But the fact that his dad, Clint, is coaching Burton may be most important. The Pumas average a state-best 85. 7 points per game. Source: www.sfgate.com
