Simi Valley Girls Run League Winning Streak to 20 Games

All in all, Dave Murphy broke about even Saturday. His alma mater, Notre Dame, lost to UCLA at Pauley Pavilion, but his Simi Valley High girls basketball team came through at Pioneer Pavilion, defeating Newbury Park, 65-53.

It was the Pioneers’ 20th straight Marmonte League win over three seasons and seventh without a loss this year. They are 16-3 overall.

“Newbury Park is a very fine team and always plays us tough,” Murphy said. “We just had a little more firepower than they did. We just wore them down.”

It was Simi Valley’s third victory over Newbury Park this season, and by far the easiest. In the other two, the Pioneers had to come from behind in the second half.

Simi Valley jumped in front at the outset, 6-0, then allowed the Panthers (11-7, 5-2) to tie the score at 15 before steadily pulling away over the final three periods.

The Pioneers led, 30-21, at halftime, and built their lead to 48-37 after three quarters. They led by as many as 18 in the final quarter.

“The key tonight was offense--they had it, we didn’t,” Newbury Park Coach Nori Parvin said. “We got out of our offense and got a little frustrated. The shots were there for us, but they weren’t falling.”

They were for the Pioneers.

Four Simi Valley players scored in double figures, led by Julie Arlotto’s 17 points. Paula Cooper had 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Dani Elton and Kristie Sterbens had 14 and 12 points.

It was basically a two-girl show for Newbury Park. Kristi Gellenbeck led all scorers with 19 points, and Julia Johnson added 18 points and nine rebounds.