Royal Creates Bottleneck With Victory

When the girls’ basketball season started, most agreed Newbury Park High would win the Marmonte League and several others would battle for second.

After six hard-fought weeks, after a 12-game schedule of upsets and gut checks, practically nothing has been resolved.

Newbury Park won the title and three teams tied for second. A series of coin flips today will determine which one will be the league’s No. 2 team for the playoffs.

The logjam was caused on Friday night when Royal defeated Simi Valley, 56-44, at Royal.

Royal (17-8), Simi Valley (17-9) and Agoura (16-11) each finished with 7-5 league records, five games behind Newbury Park (22-4, 12-0). Moorpark finished with a 5-7 record and figures to be the fifth team from the seven-team league to wind up in the Southern Section playoffs when pairings are announced this weekend.

“That’s just the way our league is,” Coach Mike Kohl of Royal said. “Any team can beat any other team.”

But few teams have been as hot as Royal, which won five of its last six. The Highlanders’ only loss in the second-half of league came in overtime against Newbury Park.

“We dug a big hole for ourselves,” said forward Kristen Galbreath, who had 11 points and eight rebounds. “But we pulled together and never looked too far ahead. Our biggest game was always our next one.”

Royal was focused for this game, getting baskets from seven players while claiming a 19-9 first-quarter lead. The Highlanders extended it to 41-29 in the third quarter before Simi Valley made a run.

“We were so pumped and ready for this game,” said point guard Novey Woodard-Parker, who had 13 points and seven rebounds. “The key all season has been rebounding, teamwork and playing together.”

Jamie Blanck and Kellie Gesell each had eight points and Kinsley Mittel added six for Royal.

Simi Valley closed the 22-point deficit to 44-36 after Galbreath fouled out in the fourth quarter, but missed six of its last seven shots.

“These kids weren’t going to quit,” Coach Dave Murphy of Simi Valley said. “We had our chances, but couldn’t get it done down the stretch.”

Elise Metcalf had 22 points and 12 rebounds, and Teresa Cooper added 11 points for the Pioneers, who made only two of their first 17 shots and finished 11 for 54 from the field.

Simi Valley defeated Royal, 38-36, on Jan. 21, when Sherice Gamble hit a jumper with seven seconds left, but there would be no repeat on this night.

The first sign it wouldn’t be the Pioneers’ night came 90 minutes before the game, when Murphy’s car was run off the highway.

While driving himself and his daughter, shooting guard Joelle Murphy, he swerved off Highway 118 to avoid a car that swerved into his lane.

Now, they find themselves in another traffic jam.