Girls' basketball teams driven to succeed in postseason

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers INCREASED INTENSITY—Calabasas High's Jasmine Johnson, right, tries to block an inbound pass by Simi Valley's Yasmin Sharawy during the regular season. CHS plays at San Dimas tonight.

Qualifying for the CIF-Southern Section postseason is nothing new for the girls' basketball programs at Newbury Park High and Oaks Christian.

Both schools won their respective league titles this season, Newbury Park in the Marmonte and OCHS in the Tri-Valley, and each program has a significant track record of success on the hardwood.

For schools such as Calabasas and Agoura, however, just getting into the playoffs is a big deal. According to Calabasas head coach David Goosen, the Coyotes will be making their first postseason appearance many years tonight when they travel to San Dimas.

"Everybody is really, really excited right now, from the girls to the parents to the administration," Goosen said.

"I hope we're not happy just to make it into the playoffs. I would like to win a few games, advance and go as far as we can."

Survive and advance is the central theme for the CIF-SS girls' basketball playoffs, which begin in earnest tonight at 7:30 across the Southland.

"The basic thing about the playoffs is not to go away from what's made you successful," said Newbury Park head coach Nori Parvin, who earlier this season won her 500th career game with the Panthers.

"You definitely have to execute, box out and make some free throws. It's the simple things, the fundamentals."

Of all the area teams competing tonight, none may be hotter than Thousand Oaks (224), second-place finishers in the Marmonte.

The Lancers have won eight consecutive contests and 12 of 13 overall, including a thrilling overtime victory at Newbury Park last week. It's the first time the team has won 20 or more games since 1997, said third-year head coach Rick Cromwell.

Forward Karina Alofaituli and guard Jenna Bandy fuel the Lancers' attack. Alofaituli averaged 12.9 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game during the regular season. Bandy was good for 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists.

Although she doesn't generally post eye-opening numbers (6.8 points, 4.2 rebounds), forward Katie Deamer has been a consistent, clutch performer in close games.

Cromwell said his squad is bubbling with pride after fighting through a tough schedule that included high-profile wins over Ventura, Buena, San Clemente, Pacific Hills and Newbury Park.

"The girls aren't afraid to play anybody, which is great," Cromwell said. "There's a lot of confidence with all of them right now."

TOHS hosts Burbank in the Division IIAA first round. In the same bracket, Royal travels to Century.

The Division IIA pool features five area teams—Newbury Park, Westlake, Simi Valley, Camarillo and Rio Mesa.

Newbury Park (20-5), the division's No. 6 seed, hosts Glendora in the opening round, while Westlake (8-19) travels to Mark Keppel as an at-large team. Simi Valley (7-19) also earned an at-large bid and will play at Villa Park.

For the Panthers, forward Doris Park-Sherman has done it all, leading the squad in points (15.2) and rebounds (11.8) per contest. In Newbury Park's regular-season finale against Royal, ParkSherman set a program single-game record with 42 points.

Point guard Sidney Dobner (13.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists) and guard Jasmine Polk (8.9 points, 3.3 rebounds) are also key clogs in the Panthers' experience-laden lineup.

Coach Parvin said the lateseason loss to Thousand Oaks could actually be a blessing in disguise for the Panthers. The team's ultimate motivation, though, may be having five seniors on the roster.

"The seniors now know they could be playing in their last game," Parvin said. "That can get emotional, knowing that."

Agoura (23-3) parlayed an excellent regular season into a No. 2 seed in Division IIIAA.

Because they didn't win a league championship—the Chargers finished third in the Marmonte—AHS was the only top-six seed in its division not to receive a first-round bye. Not that it matters much to second-year head coach Steve Scifres, who leads his Chargers against San Marcos at home tonight.

"We can't wait. We're so excited," Scifres said.

"And our girls will love it. They play their best basketball when the spotlight is on them. I think they're going to absolutely shine in front of their home crowd."

Forward Brittany Oster, point guard Kylie Cunningham and guard Sasha Borenstein are all capable off filling up the basket on any given night for AHS.

Oster's averaging a doubledouble (14.4 points, 10.9 rebounds), while Cunningham, a freshman, has been good for 16.5 points and 4.8 assists per game. Borenstein is right behind Oster at 13.3 points.

Calabasas and Oak Park both qualified for the Division IVAA playoffs.

Behind the leadership of guard Haley Meadows (15.9 points) and the go-for-broke hustle of forward Ashley Oliver (8.9 points, 8.5 rebounds), the Coyotes (14-10) had their most successful season in years.

Center Emily Cohen (8.7 points, 9.9 rebounds) has been a steady force in the paint for Calabasas.

"We feel like we can compete with any of those teams (in Division IVAA), and the reason why we feel that way is because our league is so strong," Coach Goosen said.

Oak Park (11-12), which features talented center Lauren Varney, the team leader in points, rebounds and steals, plays at Alemany. The Eagles, fourthplace finishers in the Tri-Valley League, won four of five to end the regular season.

Oaks Christian (20-1) is the No. 5 seed in Division IVA and will host Louisville in the first round.

Forward Katie Brooks has been a premier player for the Lions. She's averaging 17.1 points, 13.6 rebounds, 3.7 blocks and 2.3 steals for a team that hasn't lost since Dec. 6.

Guard Brianna Barrett (11 points, 3.4 steals) and forward Crystal Owusu (8.6 points, 5.3 rebounds) are young players who continue to improve as the season progresses.

"A sense of family has helped us become successful," OCHS head coach Andre Chevalier said. "The girls have really come together, trusted the system, and they've gone out there and played for each other."

Newbury Park Adventist, second-place finishers in the Omega League, host Baptist Christian in a Division VIAA first-round tilt.

Hillcrest Christian of Thousand Oaks played a Division VIA wild-card game Wednesday night.