Agoura’s Defense Steals Momentum : Basketball: Chargers stop Simi Valley, 69-57, to stay undefeated in Marmonte League play.

So much for momentum.

The Agoura High basketball team came into its home Marmonte League showdown against Simi Valley on Wednesday night having lost three of its last four games. The Pioneers had won 11 of 12 and seven in a row.

The result? Agoura defeated Simi Valley, 69-57.

Go figure.

Actually, the Chargers felt they were playing well, despite the losses. Their difficult schedule included four games in the Best of the West tournament in Artesia.

“Although we were 1-3 down there, we felt good about our progress,” Agoura Coach Kevin Pasky said. “We needed a game to prove ourselves and we did tonight.”

Although its overall record is 6-6, Agoura is 3-0 in the Marmonte League. Simi Valley is 11-2, having won the Hart tournament last week, but the Pioneers are 1-2 in league play.

They lost a triple-overtime game at Thousand Oaks last month.

Despite the records it was not an upset. Agoura was preseason co-favorite in the Marmonte League.

The difference in the game Wednesday night was shooting. Agoura was hot, Simi Valley was not.

The Chargers made 26 of 44 shots (59%), while Simi Valley made only 18 of 66 (27%).

Junior Brian Laibow, who scored 21 points for the Chargers, said Agoura’s defense is responsible for both teams’ shooting percentage.

“I think when our defense gets going, we get our adrenaline up, and we hit our shots,” he said.

Ben Richardson also scored 21 points for Agoura. Richardson, who has signed to play at Boise State, made eight of 13 shots and had 10 rebounds and five blocked shots.

Anthony Tauriello scored 15 points for Simi Valley. He added five steals and five assists.

Had Simi Valley not made 20 of 23 free throws, the Pioneers would not have been close.

The Chargers started the game by making 10 of 13 shots in the first quarter and 18 of 24 in the first half. Simi Valley made only seven of 19 in the first quarter and only 10 of 32 in the half.

Most of Agoura’s scoring came from Richardson, who had 17 points in the half, and Laibow, who had 16 before the break.

Simi Valley took a 2-0 lead, but Agoura led the rest of way. A 14-2 run early in the second quarter gave Agoura a 38-17 lead. The Chargers led, 45-26, at halftime.

The Pioneers’ deficit grew in the third quarter when they made only one of 12 shots.

With the help of good free-throw shooting and Agoura turnovers, Simi Valley mounted a mini comeback in the fourth quarter. But the Pioneers could get no closer than 11 points.

The Pioneers were 0 for 10 from three-point range in the second half.

“For three quarters,” Pasky said, “this was as well as we’ve played all year.”