Newbury Park No Pushover for Simi Valley

Although Newbury Park High has the smallest enrollment in the Marmonte League and has struggled in recent basketball seasons, the Panthers have shown that they must be taken seriously by league foes this season.

On Wednesday, Newbury Park ventured into Simi Valley’s gymnasium, where the Pioneers have hung five league championship banners the past six seasons. Undaunted, the Panthers threw a scare into Simi Valley, building a five-point lead early in the third quarter before dropping a 70-63 decision.

“I thought we did a pretty good job,” Newbury Park Coach Greg Ropes said. “But Simi Valley came back real strong and nothing went our way.”

Newbury Park (8-7, 3-3 in league play) used an aggressive, man-to-man defense to build a 39-34 lead with 6 minutes 50 seconds left in the third quarter.

“They were switching on every pick, and that’s something that is a little new to us,” Simi Valley Coach Dean Bradshaw said. “It was an adjustment for us.”

Simi Valley (14-3, 5-1) adjusted quickly and the Pioneers found the open man for several uncontested shots that led to 14 unanswered points. Danny Alexander’s breakaway dunk completed a 22-6 run and gave Simi Valley a 56-45 lead with 1:45 left in the quarter.

“We took a couple (of) timeouts to try to settle everybody down, but nothing went right,” said Ropes, whose team was assessed a technical foul and an intentional foul during Simi Valley’s spurt.

Newbury Park pulled within 61-55 on a basket by Sean McKeown (15 points) with 3:23 left. But junior guard Ryan Briggs, who scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half, scored six consecutive points to extend Simi Valley’s lead to 67-55.

The Panthers, who missed five consecutive free throws at one point, could get no closer than seven points thereafter.

Alexander scored 17 points, Gordon Stolla had 16, and Nathan Simmons contributed 10 points and eight rebounds for Simi Valley. The Pioneers, who committed only 11 turnovers, were 13 for 18 (72%) from the field in the second half and finished 26 for 49 (53%).

Robert Fick scored 20 points, including five three-point baskets, and Jeff Hook added 12 for Newbury Park. The Panthers were 25 for 59 from the field and seven for 17 from three-point range.