Thousand Oaks Drops Another Top Opponent

The Thousand Oaks High girls’ basketball team had already seen one lead almost disappear; it wasn’t about to let another chance slip away.

After seeing a five-point lead cut to one in the final minute of the third quarter, the Lancers scored the first nine points in the fourth quarter and went on to a 55-41 victory over Channel Islands in a Marmonte League game Thursday night at Thousand Oaks.

It was the second victory over a first-place team in three days for Thousand Oaks (14-5, 8-2 in league play), which pulled into a first-place tie with the Raiders (15-7, 8-2), Simi Valley and Royal.

On Tuesday, Thousand Oaks defeated Simi Valley, 61-56, to knock the Pioneers from first place. Next week, the Lancers will get a chance for three in a row when they play Royal.

The Lancers led, 35-34, heading into the final period against Channel Islands, but Melissa Simonetti scored two baskets, sandwiching a basket by center Jenn Detmer and a three-point basket by Lani Harimoto for a 44-34 lead with six minutes left.

“We just had to settle down and play both good offense and defense,” said Simonetti, who scored 15 points.

After a three-point shot by Eleanor Ecoffey cut the lead to 46-39 with four minutes left, Thousand Oaks scored seven consecutive points and forced three straight turnovers.

“Everybody was doing their share to contribute,” said Detmer, who finished with 19 points.

After losing by five points to Channel Islands on a barrage of three-point baskets four weeks ago, Thousand Oaks used perimeter defenders Simonetti, Harimoto and Andi Terada to hold the Raiders to three three-point baskets in 12 attempts.

Channel Islands was playing for the second straight game without starting guard Alma Perez, who is out with bronchitis, but the Raiders stayed in the game for the first three quarters behind forwards Ecoffey and Judy Tuimoloau.

Tuimoloau scored 14 points and Ecoffey had 12 points and nine rebounds. Melissa Anger scored 10 points for the Raiders.

The 6-foot-3 Detmer had nine rebounds and three blocked shots.

Elena Salvador, a 5-11 forward, had 12 rebounds for Thousand Oaks.