Playoffs arrive for Royal, Simi teams
Action set for basketball, soccer and girls' water polo
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

With the winter high school sports regular season ending, it's time to separate the contenders from the pretenders and begin exNFL coach Jim Mora's favorite time of the year. (Playoffs! You kidding me? Playoffs?)

That's right, the CIFSouthern Section postseason is underway this week for boys' basketball and soccer, as well as girls' basketball, soccer and water polo. Here is a look at the local teams that will be battling for a championship:

Boys' basketball

Division IAA

Simi Valley- Although Simi Valley faltered down the stretch by losing four of its last six games, the Pioneers still earned a playoff berth by finishing 20-6 on the year. After SVHS lost to Thousand Oaks last week, head coach Christian Aurand talked about how he was confident the team would turn around their recent losing ways.

"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."

The Pioneers responded by beating Royal in their final regular season game, 80-61. SVHS will open the postseason on the road tonight against Crespi, who finished second in the Mission League.

Crespi went 16-11 on the year, and in order for Simi to win, they will have to stop leading scorers junior Jerramy King, senior Andrew Nulman and freshman Blake Stanton. Stanton also led the team with 81 steals.

On Simi Valley's side, look for Michael Meza and Lorne Jackson to be key factors on offense. Meza averaged 17.7 points a game, while Jackson contributed with 16.4 per contest. Jackson also led the team in steals and assists.

Girls' basketball

Division IAA

Royal- The Highlanders finished the year tied with Newbury Park and Moorpark for the Marmonte League championship, but got the worst of a three-team coin flip and will begin the postseason as the No. 3 seed from the league.

The Highlanders will open the playoffs tomorrow night on the road. Their opponent will be Orange Lutheran High, who finished second in the Trinity League.

Although they were on the short end of the coin flip, Royal had an outstanding year. RHS went 21-5 despite not having a home gym because of construction at the school.

For Royal to advance to the second round, they must continue to receive stellar play from Erika Ward and Shana Moore. Ward led the Pioneers in scoring with a 13.7 pointspergame average, while Moore posted a team-high 34 blocks.

Girls' soccer

Division II

Royal- The Highlanders will open the postseason tonight at home against Lancaster after finishing the season in second place in the Marmonte League. Royal comes into the playoffs on a high note after beating Westlake last Friday. The loss by the Warriors was their first in league in 21 games.

Boys' soccer

Division I

Royal- Of all the teams in the area, the Highlanders boys' soccer squad may be the most dominant. The team hasn't lost a game since Dec. 11, a streak of 18 wins and four ties.

Royal has been winning with defense, as the trio of juniors Mathias Berbel, Nick Eldridge and Rafael Alvarez have combined to give up just 14 goals in the last 22 games, including a combined 13 shutouts between them.

On the offensive side of the ball, RHS has many weapons. Junior Paris Figueroa led the team with 13 goals, although that total may have been a lot higher if not for the injury that forced him to miss a month of action. Johnny Avina had a team-high six assists.

Royal will host Jordan High tomorrow. Jordan is the No. 3 seed out of the Moore League.

Girls' water polo

Division II

Royal- A very young group didn't hold the Highlanders back this season. RHS earned a playoff spot after finishing second in the Marmonte League.

Royal opens on the road today against Palos Verdes. Although PVHS finished first in the Bay League, Royal head coach Matt Frazier knows little about the team and has been preparing the Highlanders in practice this week as if they were playing one of their main rivals.

"I don't know much about Palos Verdes, and I don't know anyone else that knows much about them, so we are just preparing for them as if it was somebody tough in our league, like Agoura," Frazier said. "If we play our game, then it should be a really close game."

The only player on the team with playoff experience is senior Agnes Konopka, who must show the rest of the girls how to win at the playoff level. Look for junior Shannon Robertson and senior goalkeeper Brittany McKenney to be big factors as well.

"I would say we are more of a defensive team than an offensive team," Frazier said. "Our offense has been up and down, but our defense has always been solid."