Boys Basketball:

By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor

It seems that far too often, when we turn on the local or national news, it’s inundated with negative, sad or infuriating content.

It doesn’t take a Rhodes Scholar to understand that controversy and division are the media’s best friend, because it drives the number of (story) clicks through the roof.

There are thousands and thousands of uplifting and inspiring stories waiting to be told.

And here’s one of them.

Tim Godley is known around the San Gabriel Valley for a number of reasons.

All of which are good.

Godley has been a fixture in SGV area basketball circles and beyond since 1991.

He spent six years (1991-97) as the head coach at South Pasadena High School.

Over the last three-plus decades, Godley’s stops have also included stints as an assistant at both Glendale College and The Master’s University.

He would go on to lead the Duarte (1998-2003) and Maranatha (2009-2013) programs before taking over at Bonita in 2015.

Another impressive note on Godley’s resume includes being part of a basketball camp in Latvia in 2019, as well as an Athletes in Action tour to Mexico.

Godley is known by most as the best dressed basketball coach in the SGV.

He’s got the hair of the fortieth President of the United States, and he’s arguably as fit as most of his players.

In 24 years of covering athletes, coaches and programs in the SGV, IE, OC and Long Beach, I’ve never heard a man labeled ‘a class act’ by more of his colleagues and peers than Tim Godley.

But what doesn’t get talked about as much as it should is Godley’s (and his assistants) ability with the X’s and O’s while preparing the Bearcats throughout each season.

Godley finds a way to mold good players into great teams.

In 2019-20, Bonita, led by an average-sized unit, defeated Murrieta Valley (79-62), San Marcos (63-48) and Pacifica Christian (62-53) before falling to a much bigger Ribet Academy team, 64-62, in the semifinal round of the CIF-SS Division 2A playoffs.

The Bearcats won 28 of their 32 games, and watching a Godley-choreographed offense and defense outlast programs with far more raw talent was a thing of beauty.

His fellow coaches and players bought in, and it paid off with high dividends.

That gets us to 2022-23.

Throughout the season and especially during the final leg of the Palomares League grind, the word we kept hearing out of Bonita was, “we’ll be fine once we get our injured stars back.”

And you had to think, “OK, coach, but it’s getting pretty late.”

In fact, the Bearcats entered the CIF-SS Division 3A playoffs having lost six of their last seven (league) games.

Bonita finished 3-7, and they had to make a 104-mile trip to Indio to open the postseason.

Keep in mind, though, as Godley and others mentioned, BHS would be getting Colton Perez and others back, and they’d be fine.

It turns out Godley knew exactly what he was talking about, because Bonita defeated Indio, 71-44, in the first round.

But they’d certainly fall two nights later when they took on top-seeded Paraclete, wouldn’t they?

Nope.

Bonita secured a 61-52 victory over the Spirits, and that set up a dream-like scenario.

BHS and rival San Dimas met up with a spot in the D-3A semifinals on the line.

The Bearcats left the SDHS gym with a 59-58 triumph of the Saints, and that win also avenged a home loss to San Dimas some 71 days prior.

In the D-3A semifinal, San Gabriel Academy claimed a 73-57 victory over the Bearcats in what could only be described as a mismatch on a number of levels.

But Godley’s magic was back on display.

He was able to prove yet again that he can match his coaching skills with anyone, and that a ‘pretty good team’ can compete and many times defeat programs with superior talent.

How could Godley possibly top the personal and collective achievement of that deep playoff run as the 2022-23 school year nears its end?

He would earn an Educational Doctorate in Learning and Organizational Change from Baylor University.

His dissertation was: A Multiple Case Study Investigating Academic Support for High School Basketball Players.

The program was mostly remote, but he had a couple of on-campus immersions.

Godley, who just returned from Texas, described the experience as “very challenging but rewarding as well. I’m glad I did it.”

When asked what possessed him to pursue this educational path at this stage in his life, the Azusa Pacific University grad said, “The best answer is: it was a mountain I wanted to climb. I think it’s important to challenge yourself. I would recommend it for sure. I learned so much about myself. For those who consider it, I would highly recommend Baylor’s program. The professors are fantastic.”

And to be clear, there was no ulterior motive in reaching this milestone.

Coach Godley’s future plans revolve around improving the lives of his math students and the boys basketball program at Bonita High School.

The only change is a little addition to his name.

Introducing, Dr. Tim Godley.