Inside stuff

Defending league champion Lions must fend off Agoura, other girls’ basketball squads




SWIPE—Agoura High girls’ basketball junior point guard Megan Lee, left, steals the ball from teammate Sophia McGowan during practice earlier this week. The Chargers finished 20-12 overall last season.

SWIPE—Agoura High girls’ basketball junior point guard Megan Lee, left, steals the ball from teammate Sophia McGowan during practice earlier this week. The Chargers finished 20-12 overall last season.

It’s the most wonderful time of year.

Instead of stuffing their guts with Thanksgiving turkey, pumpkin pie and other goodies, local high school girls’ basketball players are ready to feast on foes on the hardwood.

Competition in the Marmonte League remains stiffer than Aunt Sally’s cornbread.

Oaks Christian hasn’t lost a league game in its first two seasons in the Marmonte. Agoura, a section finalist last season, and Newbury Park, which won a CIF-Southern Section Division 2AA championship last winter, will try to knock out the Lions. Thousand Oaks, Calabasas and Westlake also battle on the court.

OAKS CHRISTIAN LIONS

The Lions are defending Marmonte League champs.

Last year, Oaks Christian finished 22-9 overall, including 10-0 in league. The Lions haven’t lost a league outing since 2010, when they toiled in the Tri-Valley League.

“We still have some really good players back,” second-year head coach Kristy Hopkins said. “We’ll do some good things throughout the year.”

Sydney Boyer, a 6-foot-1 senior forward committed to Princeton, does it all for Oaks Christian. She’s a force on the glass and a threat from beyond the arc.

Camryn Davis, a junior, is an explosive guard.

Jalise McCaskill, a sophomore guard, also roams the perimeter.

Ashley Massell, a junior, is a returning varsity guard expected to play a bigger role this season.

The Lions welcome senior Elizabeth Newman, a 6-foot forward committed to Division II Azusa Pacific. Newman transferred from Pacific Palisades, where she helped the Dolphins claim the CIF-City Section Open Division title last season.

“She plays inside but she can also shoot the three,” the coach said of Newman. “We’ll look for her to do a little bit of everything this year.”

Oaks Christian (0-1) opened the season with a loss against Chaminade on Nov. 21. The Lions play at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 28 at home against Sierra Canyon.

AGOURA CHARGERS

Jason Ancrum, Agoura’s second year head coach, has the Chargers heading in the right direction.

After reaching the Division 2A title game last season, Agoura (20- 12 overall, 7-3 in league last year) will shoot for the moon this winter.

“After our (postseason) losses to Norco and Orange Lutheran,” Ancrum said, “we realized we had a couple of faults in our half-court offense, which we’ve put a lot of work into this year.”

Agoura returns its core, including seniors Emily Cangelosi and Jazz Benn, and junior Megan Lee.

“Those three are kind of the cornerstone of our team right now,” the coach said. “We’re building everything around them. Not just the team, the whole program really.”

Julia Barsocchini, a junior, will start at guard. Fellow junior Alcatraz Perez starts at forward.

The Chargers boast a deep bench, including junior forward Sophia McGowan, junior forward Kira Matsuo, sophomore center Jamie Woodruff and sophomore guard Lina Thompson.

Agoura opened the season on Tuesday against Valencia. A final score was unavailable at press time.

The Chargers’ next game is 6:30 p.m. Dec. 2 against Canyon of Canyon Country on the road.

Agoura’s quest for a league title begins against Oaks Christian at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 6 at home against the Lions.

“We’ve worked very, very hard,” Ancrum said. “It’ll be tough to find another team that’s worked harder than us.”

CALABASAS COYOTES

The Coyotes are growing up.

“They’ve been with me for three years,” third-year head coach Sarah Court said. “They’re understanding the system, and they’ve been playing a lot of basketball since I took over the program.”

Three-year varsity players Hailey Roknipour and Leanne Pagus, both seniors, are impact forwards.

Robin Leitheiser, a senior, is a returning starter in the post. Kylie Okazaki, a junior, starts at point guard. Senior guards Chloe Galinksy and Noa Ryngler improved during the offseason.

Calabasas begins its season on Nov. 28 at the Viewpoint Tournament. The Coyotes will compete in tournaments at Nordhoff and El Camino Real in December before opening league play at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 6 against Newbury Park at home.

“If everyone does their job, and does it well, we can be successful,” Court said.

WESTLAKE WARRIORS

The Warriors are ready to put last year’s winless run through the Marmonte in the rearview mirror.

Head coach Harry Carbonati said Westlake has improved.

“We’re playing a lot better than when I took over the ball club last year,” he said. “I’m hoping all that improvement will carry over into the season.”

Jenna Schramm, a junior forward, and Sydney Clark, a junior guard, lead the Warriors.

“They’re the two players that are going to make a difference,” the coach said.

Rachel Mettel, a senior guard, is back in the lineup after missing the second half of last year with an ACL injury. Samantha Schalk, a sophomore, is settling in at center. Juniors Anastasia Escalante, Alexis Tran and Abigail Tran are key rotation players.

The Warriors will rely on their defense to scrap together wins. Their first game is at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 29 against Pacifica in the Viewpoint Tournament. Westlake opens Marmonte action Jan. 6 on the road against Thousand Oaks.

“We’ll be very competitive,” Carbonati said, “and I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people.”

NEWBURY PARK PANTHERS

It’s time for the Panthers to learn how to survive without superstar Kayla Overbeck.

For four years, Newbury Park relied on Overbeck, who currently suits up for Vanderbilt. She was instrumental during the Panthers’ run to the Division 2AA title last season.

The Black Cat Attack (24-11 overall, 7-3 in league last year) will look different this season.

“Although we don’t have a player that can get 20 (points) and 20 (rebounds) a game, we have a slew of them could give us 10 and 8,” seventh-year head coach Darren Burge said.

Newbury Park, which doesn’t return any starters from the title team, will look to sophomore Simone Overbeck, Kayla’s younger sister, to step up on offense.

“She has the potential to be just as good as her sister, just a different type of player,” Burge said of Simone Overbeck.

Guards Monroe Farris, a junior, and Carlie Magallanes, a senior, are varsity returners who earned starting roles. Reese Burge, the coach’s niece, is a junior who will contribute at guard. Alyssandra Lacanilao, a sophomore, is a point guard to watch. Alexis Saucerman and Kaitlyn Fields are sharpshooting junior guards who will come off the bench. Toni Thompson and Emma Smigiel are intriguing freshmen.

Newbury Park opens its season at 6 p.m. Nov. 30 against Buchanan in the Buena Tournament. The Panthers begin league play at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 6 on the road against Calabasas.

THOUSAND OAKS LANCERS

A more seasoned Thousand Oaks squad is ready to make a move in head coach Chris Benton’s second year at the helm.

“Nobody is going to be surprised by anything,” Benton said. “Everyone’s gone through the rigors of the league. Now that they’ve been through it, they know what to expect.”

The Lancers, who opened the season Tuesday in the Culver City Tournament, finished last season 14-15 overall, 4-6 in league.

Lizzy Buzzelli, a senior forward, takes care of business under the boards.

Fellow seniors Ranika Guyton and Kelli White, both guards, are key starters. Lizzy Benton and Mackenzie Walton are sophomore guards to watch.

Thousand Oaks will start the season with junior guard Katie Johnson on the sidelines; she’s recovering from wrist surgery.

Diana Suarez, a sophomore guard, is a super sub.

Junior center Anna Randall and sophomore forward Hannah Lyche have potential to grow into strong players.

The Lancers continue playing in the Culver City Tournament at 3:15 p.m. Nov. 29 against Knight.

 

 

REMEMBER HOW THIS FEELS—Allison Barsocchini, left, comforts her daughter, Julia, after Agoura lost to Norco during the Division 2A title game last season. Julia Barsocchini, now a junior guard, will try to help the Chargers win a Division 1A title this winter.

REMEMBER HOW THIS FEELS—Allison Barsocchini, left, comforts her daughter, Julia, after Agoura lost to Norco during the Division 2A title game last season. Julia Barsocchini, now a junior guard, will try to help the Chargers win a Division 1A title this winter.

WHO’S OPEN?—Agoura’s Kira Matsuo looks to pass the ball to an open teammate during practice on Monday afternoon.

WHO’S OPEN?—Agoura’s Kira Matsuo looks to pass the ball to an open teammate during practice on Monday afternoon.

 

 

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