High School Basketball : Channel Islands Holds Off Royal

Royal’s plan to contend for the Marmonte League championship suffered a setback Saturday night when Channel Islands’ Roger Jones deflected a pass in the final seconds to preserve a 61-59 victory for the Raiders, who held off a furious Royal comeback.

Royal (7-5, 0-1) trailed by seven points with 2:05 remaining, but rallied to within two before Jones, an All-Southern Section defensive lineman last season, thwarted the Highlanders’ final chance to tie the score.

“It’s not a setback from the standpoint that one game makes a season, but with our league as competitive as it is, it makes the rest of our league games tougher,” Royal Coach Joe Malkinson said.

Point guard Victor Caro and forward Lionel Robinson shared game-high honors with 15 points each for visiting Channel Islands (6-5, 1-0).

Tony Strickland led Royal with 13 points and teammate J. P Ouellette came off the bench to score 11. Chris Myers had nine points and six assists for the Highlanders.

Camarillo 62, Westlake 45--Tom Carrillo scored 19 points to lead Camarillo in the Marmonte League-opening game at home.

Sean Young added 18 points for the Scorpions (6-5, 1-0).

Kevin Logan led Westlake with 15 points.

GIRLS

Chaminade 42, L.A. Baptist 41 (OT)--Chaminade’s Kim Gutierrez hit a three-point shot with five seconds remaining in overtime in the nonleague game at L. A. Baptist.

Teammate Anna Suarez had a game-high 17 points and 10 rebounds for Chaminade (5-3), and Kathy Truitt had eight points and 10 rebounds.

Marni Harris led L. A. Baptist with 15 points. Teammate Sheri Harris added 11.

Channel Islands 60, Royal 50--Ytteb Bowls scored 15 points in leading Channel Islands (8-3, 1-0) to a Marmonte League win at Royal.

Blanca Escobar scored 14 points and teammate Lisa Terry added 10 for Royal (4-5, 0-1).

Jenny Korinko added seven points and 12 rebounds for Royal.

Compiled by Steven Fleischman, John Ortega and Sean Waters.