Late-Blooming Thousand Oaks Making Run at Playoff Berth

Despite its slow start, Thousand Oaks might have surfaced in time to salvage a boys’ basketball playoff berth. The Lancers have won four of their past six games, including successive victories over Channel Islands, Newbury Park and, in overtime last week, Camarillo.

The surge has left Thousand Oaks (10-11, 5-5) one game behind Westlake and a half-game behind Royal in the Marmonte League battle for third place. The Lancers will play at Westlake on Wednesday and travel to Royal on Friday. Thousand Oaks is 3-8 on the road, 7-3 at home.

“I don’t think anybody was able to get a handle on how good we could be, how good we are,” Coach Ed Chevalier said. “We were a little late developing, that’s all.”

Forward John Bushart leads the Lancers with 12.8 points and 6.7 rebounds a game. Guard Darren McMaster averages 10.7 points and Mike Sandlin averages 9.6.