Agoura freshmen boys basketball excels





The Agoura High School freshmen boys’ basketball team recently competed in a 16-team tournament in Valencia, earning second place.


After winning 14 of 16 games over the summer, the team now has a record of 4-1 this season.


The team is coached by Don Karr and assisted by Greg Acevedo.


"They’ve responded really well," Karr said of the team, which he’s coached for several years. He officially became the freshmen coach when Agoura’s first-year varsity coach Joe Riccio asked him to take the job.


In nine seasons with the same core group of players, Karr has coached the team to six first-place finishes, three second-place finishes and one third place.


During last summer, the Agoura freshmen team played in a Thursday league and a Sunday league; one in Newbury Park, the other in Oak Park.


"We won both of those," Karr said. "And then we were in a 16-team Chaminade Tournament in which we ended up with the second best record." Then came the Valencia Tournament.


Donnie Karr, the coach’s son, leads the team with an average 16 points per game, in addition to averaging five steals and four assists.


Elex Michaelson leads the team with eight rebounds per game, and also contributes a team-leading three blocked shots each game.


"We work well together and we play well as a team," Donnie Karr said. "Nobody hogs the ball. We’re all unselfish that way."


Also on the squad are: Trevor Carlston, Andy Christophe, Joey Devita, Ben Hawkinson, Kasey Johnson, Clay Matthews, Matthew Mejia, Chris O’Keefe, Chase Parry, Nick Saul and Brian Zimring.


"We have a tight-knit team," Michaelson said in describing the Charger freshmen.


"I think we’re going to be successful for the next four years—I think we’re helping start a new tradition at Agoura and that feels good."



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