Lancers Pull Even in Heated League Race

Neither Thousand Oaks High nor Channel Islands has the experience when it comes to these Marmonte League championship races.

The last time the Raiders won a league title was the 1982-83 season, when most of this season’s team were more familiar with Bugs Bunny than zone defenses. And, to today’s Lancers, dribble was something that hit the bottom of their chins when Thousand Oaks won its last championship in 1977.

But both teams have quickly become acclimated to title fever.

Thousand Oaks handed Channel Islands a 79-74 loss Friday night at Thousand Oaks, forging a first-place tie between the teams with two games remaining.

“You could sure tell we both have the same goal in mind,” Channel Islands Coach Don Salado said with a smile. “That was a great ballgame to watch, wasn’t it?”

It was perhaps a better sight for Thousand Oaks, which led from the outset and held off a late scoring flurry by Marlowe Durmiendo--who scored 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, to sweep the Raiders. Thousand Oaks (18-4 overall, 9-3 in league play) beat Channel Islands (17-5, 9-3), 56-54, in three overtimes Jan. 12.

After Chris Loll (25 points and 10 rebounds) hit a jump shot that gave Thousand Oaks a 73-70 lead with 1 minute 48 seconds left, an ill-advised three-point attempt by Durmiendo spelled Channel Islands’ doom and characterized the Raiders’ evening.

“I tell them to work for a shot, because the least you’ll get is a foul,” Salado said. “But they just casted off from the perimeter.”

And the cast seldom hit the water. Channel Islands hit only 26 of 61 (43%) field-goal attempts, but earned some redemption from the free-throw line (20 of 22).

Thousand Oaks, which utilized nine players, had too much depth for the Raiders. Brian Capella hit both ends of a one-and-one to extend Thousand Oaks’ lead to 75-70 with 1:23 left, and Loll sandwiched two free throws and a jumper around Marlon Jones’ layin, giving Thousand Oaks a 79-72 lead with 34 seconds left.

“Thousand Oaks was real tough down the stretch,” Salado said.

Part of the Lancers success can be attributed to a three-guard offense they implemented for the first time this season. Channel Islands’ tallest starter is 6-foot-3, which allowed the Lancers to start a third guard and not lose much rebounding strength.

The move paid off when the Lancers tied their season-high with 10 three-point baskets in 21 attempts (48%), including threes from Gal Hever, Tony Siegel and Capella to keep the Raiders at bay early in the fourth quarter.

“Coach Chevalier said before the season that he wanted us to make 500 three-pointers, but we have only made a little over 300,” Capella said with a grin. “So, with three games left, I guess we were supposed to make about 60 tonight.”

Siegel hit three three-point baskets and Capella (12 points), Scott Peterson (10 points) and Andrew Borg each added two. Thousand Oaks was as efficient from just about any spot on the floor, hitting 28 of 55 (51%) from the field and 13 of 16 (81%) free throws.

But as long as Stephane Brown wears a Raiders’ uniform, Salado is at least guaranteed to be within range. Brown, a 6-2 Channel Islands senior who entered the game averaging 22 points, scored 27 points, including 17 in the first half.