Thousand Oaks Survives Scare, Tips Simi Valley

When you’re hot, sometimes you’re lucky. And the Thousand Oaks High basketball team, riding a 15-game winning streak, has been both.

Fortunes continued to fall the Lancers’ way Wednesday night when a three-point shot by Simi Valley’s Sean Malia failed to fall with seven seconds remaining at Thousand Oaks.

Malia’s hurried heave over a defender from the corner caromed in and out, allowing Thousand Oaks to escape with a 60-57 Marmonte League victory.

The triumph moved Thousand Oaks (18-1, 9-0 in league play) two games ahead of second-place Simi Valley (16-5, 7-2) and completed a two-game sweep of the Pioneers. Five league games remain.

“It looked pretty darn close,” said Ed Chevalier, the Thousand Oaks coach.

It probably should not have been.

Thousand Oaks moved ahead to stay in the first quarter and led 36-22 at halftime.

Even after Simi Valley’s Ryan Briggs beat the third-quarter buzzer with a half-court swish, Thousand Oaks still seemed in control, 49-37.

But the basket by Briggs--who made the shot on the run, then sprinted toward the bench and dove atop teammates--seemed to ignite the Pioneers.

Malia opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer to trigger a 12-4 run.

But twins Paul and Nick Foster kept Thousand Oaks from faltering.

Nick, who scored 14 points and had a game-high 11 rebounds, made a basket and a free throw to give the Lancers a 56-49 lead.

Paul, who scored a game-high 16 points to go with six rebounds, scored four points in the final period, including a breakaway dunk with one minute to play to give Thousand Oaks a 60-55 lead and slow Simi Valley’s momentum.

Or so it seemed.

Jeremy Roberts and Briggs, who led the Pioneers with 14 points, missed three-point attempts before Nathan Simmons scored inside.

Seconds later, Nick Foster missed the front end of a one and one, setting the stage for the dramatic finish.

“We got the ball to the guy we wanted,” Simi Valley Coach Dean Bradshaw said. “They had three fouls to give, so we had to get something off.”

Said Chevalier: “As long as we learn from this situation, we’ll be a better team.”