Newbury Park Won’t Fold, Holds On to Win

The most balanced team in the region’s most balanced girls’ basketball league was teetering on the brink of an upset loss.

But Newbury Park High held off a furious rally by Simi Valley and stands firmly atop the Marmonte League standings.

The Panthers’ 51-45 victory at Simi Valley on Friday night broke a first-place tie and gave Newbury Park sole possession of the league lead for the first time since 1995.

The Panthers (14-4, 4-0 in league), ranked No. 5 in the region by The Times, led, 42-32, after three quarters, but Simi Valley (13-5, 3-1) closed to within 47-45 on Teresa Cooper’s jumper with 1:28 left.

Newbury Park didn’t panic.

“We knew we could pull it out,” said sophomore forward Cassandra Harris, who had 19 points and 10 rebounds. “We know how to keep our cool.”

Reserve guard Alex Mallen made three of four free throws in the final 44 seconds, and Jamie Dirksing added another.

Depth has been a key all season for the Panthers. It was more than evident when leading scorer Bridget Harris was limited to only two points by Elise Metcalf of Simi Valley.

Of the 11 healthy players who suited up for Newbury Park, 10 scored.

Rachel Hever scored eight points. Eric McGuire came off the bench to score six crucial points in the second half. Jessie Goddard had five points. Newbury Park’s reserves outscored the Pioneers’, 16-6.

“We’re very fortunate,” Coach Nori Parvin said. “Other teams can’t scout us and say they have to stop this player or that player. We have a lot of this players and that players.”

With the game still undecided in the final minute, the Panthers had four sophomores and a junior on the floor.

The only Marmonte League team that might be younger is Simi Valley.

The Pioneers, thought to be rebuilding after losing three starters to graduation, start a freshman, three sophomores and a senior.

It was a group so frustratingly talented but immature that longtime Coach Dave Murphy seriously considered quitting last spring.

He’s glad he stayed.

“The transformation has been incredible,” he said. “Along the way, the kids have found some real heart and put things together.”

Cooper, a sophomore, and Metcalf, a senior, have been the catalysts.

Against Newbury Park, Metcalf had 20 points and seven rebounds. Cooper added 11 points.

Sophomore forward Sherice Gamble, a two-year starter, had one of the best games of her career with six points and nine rebounds.

But no other Simi Valley player had more than two points.

That’s what tilted the scales.