HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK

Simi Valley and Moorpark have 11-2 records when Marmonte League boys’ play starts tonight, but the expectations surrounding the two teams are vastly different.

While Simi Valley is favored to win its second consecutive league title, the jury is out on Moorpark, which didn’t play a strong nonleague schedule.

In contrast, Simi Valley played in high-caliber tournaments in Las Vegas--winning the Gold Cup division--and Escondido.

The Pioneers have four starters from a team that was 12-0 in league play and 28-3 overall last year, and advanced to the semifinals of the Southern Section Division I-A playoffs.

Seniors Branduinn Fullove and Brett Michel, who are in their fourth seasons as starters, are Simi Valley’s leaders.

Fullove, a 6-foot-5 guard who has signed with UC Santa Barbara, is averaging 23.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.

Michel, a 6-6 forward, is averaging 20.8 points and 5.7 rebounds and shooting 45.7% (43 of 94) from three-point range.

Simi Valley hosts Thousand Oaks (8-5) tonight while Moorpark hosts Westlake (10-4).

Agoura (2-11) plays at Newbury Park (6-5) in the other opener.

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The Oxnard boys have lost two consecutive games entering a nonleague game tonight at Buena, but Coach Henry Lobo is pleased with the Yellowjackets play.

“At 11-4, I can’t complain too much,” Lobo said. “This might be the hardest schedule Oxnard has ever had.”

Oxnard lost to Santa Monica, 52-47, in the third-place game of the Santa Barbara tournament last Thursday after a 68-60 overtime loss to Glendora in the semifinals the night before.

Glendora, runner-up to Santa Ana Mater Dei in the Southern Section Division I-A final last year, tied the score, 55-55, with six seconds left in the fourth quarter on Tom Hatton’s three-point shot.

Oxnard lost to Ridgecrest Burroughs, 65-61, in the championship game of the Saugus tournament on Dec. 4 after Blake Stephenson made a three-pointer for the Burroughs with two seconds left to force overtime.

“Time management and finishing games strong is the next thing we’re going to focus on,” Lobo said. “We’ve had the lead with less than four minutes to play in three of our four losses.”