Simi Valley Pulls Into Tie for 1st With Thousand Oaks

The message, which stared at Simi Valley High’s players in their team room, was short and succinct. “The Bottom Line: (Thousand Oaks) Falls on Wednesday.”

The Pioneers drew that line exactly 15 feet from the hoop, and dared the Lancers to shoot from it.

As Simi Valley hoped, Thousand Oaks misfired, losing, 55-51, Wednesday night in a pivotal Marmonte League basketball game at Simi Valley.

Thousand Oaks, which entered the game shooting only 57% from the free-throw line in league games, made 18 of 29 (62%). That performance is a marked improvement from Friday, when Thousand Oaks hit only eight of 24 (33%) in a 67-56 win over Westlake.

But it wasn’t good enough to beat the Pioneers (16-3, 7-1 in league play), who avenged a four-point loss earlier this month and forged a first-place tie with Thousand Oaks (12-6, 7-1).

Thousand Oaks, which had a seven-game victory streak snapped, also struggled from the field, making 15 of 43 shots.

“We’re just a bad free-throw shooting team,” Thousand Oaks Coach Ed Chevalier said. “In a game like this, it all comes down to execution, and that’s at the free-throw line too. You just can’t shoot like that.”

After Thousand Oaks guard Jeff Perrault made two free throws that tied the score, 42-42, with 3 minutes 27 seconds to play, Simi Valley junior point guard Ryan Briggs took matters into his own hands.

Briggs, who was benched for a brief period in the third quarter because of poor play, hit a 14-foot jump shot, converted both ends of a one-and-one, then stole the ensuing inbounds pass and immediately fed Danny Alexander. Alexander, a senior forward who had 21 points and 10 rebounds, was fouled and hit two free throws that extended Simi Valley’s lead to 48-42 with 1:32 left.

“You put Ryan into a clutch situation and he thrives on the challenge,” Simi Valley Coach Dean Bradshaw said.

Simi Valley kept Thousand Oaks at bay by hitting 11 of 13 free throws in the final 1:41. The Pioneers finished 21 of 49 (43%) from the field and 11 of 16 (69%) from the line.

Andrew Borg scored 12 points to lead Thousand Oaks, which shot 63% from the field in a 66-62 win over Simi Valley on Jan. 8.