Edison Whittles Agoura Down to Size, 67-51

Reeling from Edison High’s overpowering inside attack, Agoura fell, 67-51, in a Southern Section 4-A Division basketball playoff game Friday night at Agoura.

Bill Martineau, who is listed at 6-foot-10 but looks closer to 6-8, scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, both game highs, to pace Edison (19-8). Teammate Brandon Jessie contributed 16 points and seven rebounds.

Agoura was held to a season-low 14 rebounds.

“We felt like we were much stronger inside and that’s where we went,” Edison Coach Jon Borchert said.

Edison’s size advantage became painfully clear with 7 minutes 5 seconds to play, when Agoura center Tony Marko (6-5) picked up his fifth foul.

“After him, we fall off to 6-3, 6-4, at best,” Agoura Coach Kevin Pasky said.

Perhaps Agoura’s most frustrating moment came with 2 1/2 minutes to play and with the game well out of reach. Joe Marini took two steps over the halfcourt stripe and launched a bomb that fell two feet shy of the rim. Although he agreed the shot was ill-advised, Pasky understood the sentiment behind it.

“It was pure frustration,” Pasky said. “He felt like he had to get the three right now.”

Edison led, 36-25, at intermission and expanded its advantage to 19 points in the first three minutes of the third quarter. During a 15-second span, Martineau had a spinning, one-handed slam and Jessie followed with a two-fisted jam after he cut back door on his defender.

“They were emotional plays,” Borchert said. “When they make those, it fires up the entire team.”

Agoura (14-9), which was playing without injured guard Sean Martin (22.6 points a game), was led by Bryce Arledge, who scored 17 points and notched four steals. Brian Miller added nine points.

Dan Lovelady (14 points) and Todd Smyser (10) scored in double figures for Edison.