T.O.'s Poppen too much for Pioneers to handle
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers PACKED IN THE ACT- Simi Valley's Michael Meza, center, gets double-teamed by Thousand Oaks' Cyrus Kiani, left, and Michael Taxter as Bobby Macias looks on in the background. Simi lost 55-45.

During Simi Valley High boys' basketball game for first place in the Marmonte League standings Wednesday night, officials ordered fans at Thousand Oaks to remove their green beads. Many of the beads were becoming dangerous after they ended up being thrown on the court.

Simi Valley, however, probably wishes the officials had ordered Lancer forward Jake Poppen off the court instead.

Poppen scored a game-high 22 points as TOHS beat the Pioneers 55-45. The loss put Simi Valley's record at 9-4 in league, while Thousand Oaks' record improved to 11-2.

"The main difference between Thousand Oaks last time and this time was tonight we had a tough time controlling Poppen inside," Simi Valley head coach Christian Aurand said. "He was very tough on the glass tonight."

Poppen got the crowd pumped up louder than an airport terminal when he slammed home a dunk after a steal to put Thousand Oaks up 11-6.

BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers SACRIFICE- Thousand Oaks' Michael Shelton, middle, gives up his body to stop Simi Valley's Grant Keller Wednesday night.

Although Thousand Oaks led 168 shortly after the first quarter, the Pioneers battled back. Simi went on a 6-0 run, sparked by a 3-pointer by Brandon Simon, to cut the lead to 16-14.

Although Thousand Oaks kept Simi guard Lorne Jackson in check for most of the first half by holding him to just one point, Jackson went off in the third quarter.

He scored the team's first 10 points in the third, including back-to-back 3-pointers at the top of the key.

While Thousand Oaks couldn't stop Jackson, Simi couldn't stop Poppen either.

Poppen matched Jackson's 11 third-quarter points and by the time the final quarter had started, the Lancers were up 41-30.

The fourth quarter saw both teams trade baskets, but by that time TOHS had a big enough cushion where going score for score wouldn't be enough for the Pioneers.

Center Alex Kane of Thousand Oaks scored only three points but contributed with four blocked shots. After the game Kane said the key to victory was the team's defense.

"We knew we had to focus on their guards and stopping their 3point shots," Kane said. "They hit some in the third quarter, but overall I think we did a great job. It was great to get a win tonight for these fans that have been so behind every one of our players all year long."

Jackson finished with a team-high 19 points. Michael Meza added 15.

After the loss, Aurand talked about how the Pioneers must get over the defeat soon to do well in the playoffs.

"We have to regroup after tonight and I think the team will," Aurand said. "These kids have responded well to tough situations all year, and we're going to have to keep battling the rest of the year."

Simi Valley ends its regular season tonight when they host Royal at 7:30. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitcher Jered Weaver will have his Simi Valley jersey retired at halftime.