HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL / STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT : Thousand Oaks Rolls Along, 54-32

Although senior guard Michelle Palmisano scored a season-low 12 points, Thousand Oaks High easily defeated host Clovis West, 54-32, Tuesday night in the first round of the Southern California Division I regional girls’ basketball playoffs.

Marion Jones had 11 points and 13 rebounds and Sasha Scardino added 13 points for Thousand Oaks (30-1). Palmisano, who has been slowed by leg injuries, hurt her hip after crashing to the floor late in the third quarter.

Thousand Oaks led, 44-22, after three quarters and stretched its winning streak to 23 games.

Samantha Clarke added eight points for the Lancers, who took a 23-12 halftime advantage after leading only 8-5 after one quarter.

Clovis West, champion of the Central Section, finished 23-6.

In other girls’ Division I games:

Peninsula 88, Granada Hills 39--The nation’s top-ranked team had no problem with the visiting Highlanders, bolting to a huge early lead.

Peninsula (30-0) led, 22-0, before Granada Hills’ Karen Berkowitz hit a three-point shot with three minutes remaining in the first quarter.

The Lady Panthers built on their advantage and held a 48-12 halftime lead. Midway through the third period, Peninsula’s lead had grown to 53 points.

Four starters scored in double figures for Peninsula and the fifth, Raquel Alotis, finished with nine points, seven rebounds, seven assists and four steals.

Six-foot-five senior center Jeffra Gausepohl and sophomore forward Mimi McKinney each scored 18 points for the Panthers. Monique Morehouse had 10 points and guard Kristen Mulligan finished with 10 points, seven assists and four steals.

Berkowitz scored a game-high 26 points for Granada Hills (14-7), the City Section 3-A champion.

Poway 46, Buena 42--In the second half, Buena shot only 20% from the field and scored 11 points at San Diego. Julie Hardy had 12 points to lead Buena (25-4), the Southern Section Division I-A runner-up.

Poway junior Jamie Shadian made the key shots, a three-point basket at the end of the first half that cut Buena’s lead to four points and a three-point basket with 1:47 left in the third quarter that gave Poway the lead for good, 42-39. She finished with four three-point baskets.

In the fourth quarter, the Titans (27-3) outscored Buena, 4-3.

Another second-half key for Poway was rebounding. The Titans held a 19-7 edge with Allison Brady getting seven and junior Kara Milling six.

Poway limited Buena to one basket and one free throw over the final 12 minutes 20 seconds.

Rachel McSorley had nine points for Buena but the team’s leading scorer, Michelle Giordano, was held to six.

Buena committed 24 turnovers and Poway committed 23.

GIRLS’ DIVISION V

El Cajon 65, Holy Martyrs 41--The Armens (24-4) trailed by only one point at halftime, but El Cajon (21-4) pulled away in the third quarter by outscoring Holy Martyrs, 21-6.

Aline Altibarmakian scored 20 points and Melina Dervanielian added 13 for Holy Martyrs.

BOYS’ DIVISION V

Faith Baptist 77, Fresno Christian 46--Faith Baptist (25-6) took advantage of second-shot opportunities at Fowler High. The Contenders outrebounded Fresno Christian (18-9), 14-5, in the first quarter, including a 10-0 advantage on the offensive end, and led, 22-12.

Faith Baptist opened the second quarter with an 11-0 run to lead by 21 points.

Senior forward Darren Wyre scored a game-high 23 points for the Contenders. Etienne Moore had 24 rebounds and 15 points.

The Eagles pulled to within 11 points early in the third quarter, but that was as close they would get. Faith Baptist ended the quarter with a 49-34 lead and opened the fourth quarter with a 8-0 run.

Peter Rasmussen had 16 points and Alex Estrada added 10.

The Contenders will play top-seeded Ribet Academy in the regional semifinal Thursday. Faith Baptist defeated Ribet Academy, 88-66, in December. Ribet Academy is defending state Division 5 champion.