Flair for the dramatic

SIZE HIM UP—Royal High’s Doug Tavares, left, goes one-on-one with Moorpark defender John Lenox during Tuesday’s 63-62 Highlander victory in overtime. It was Royal’s 11th win of the season. WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers The Highlanders have been in more thrillers than a 24-hour marathon of James Bond flicks.

Seven games have been decided by three or fewer points. They lost an overtime game on a buzzer-beating, half-court heave. Oh, and they beat crosstown rival Simi Valley on the road.

The Royal High boys’ basketball team has enjoyed a whirlwind season that makes the gnarliest roller coaster at Six Flags look like a tortoise race.

Even after heartbreaking losses, the Highlanders get back up, stitch the aorta to the pulmonary artery and look forward to the next game.

“We just always try to bounce back,” said senior Jeremy Harry. “We had a close loss to Calabasas, and we came back and beat Agoura. We don’t look down at the negatives. We want to look up and end this year strong.”

DRIVE THE LANE—Royal’s Jeremy Harry goes strong to the hoop. WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers Royal has been playing solid basketball all season.

The Highlanders (11-12 overall, 4-7 in the Marmonte League entering Thursday’s game at Newbury Park) are still in the playoff hunt, and a spot could come down to the season finale against Simi Valley next Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at home for Royal’s Senior Night.

Royal’s 59-50 victory over Simi Valley on Jan. 15 was the school’s first win against the Pioneers since a 48-41 triumph on Jan. 19, 2005.

It was head coach Craig Griffin’s second win against his alma mater in seven seasons guiding RHS, although there have been several close games.

Harry called the recent win over Simi Valley “tremendous.”

“We came out with a lot of intensity and didn’t let up at all,” senior Sam Schaefer said. “It was the best feeling ever.”

Griffin, who played on a section finalist SVHS hoops squad before graduating in 1993, has enjoyed coaching this batch of Highlanders.

“They’ve grown up together and been together for a number of years,” Griffin said.

“The word ‘family’ comes to mind for me when I think of this group. I think they all really care about each other and want each other to succeed.”

The coach put Royal’s win against Simi Valley in perspective.

“I don’t want to say it’s just another win,” Griffin said. “It was an important win from the standpoint the team deserved it. Our guys work hard for everything that they get, just like every other team does.

“I think a lot of people look and judge your program by how much you win by, who are you beating and things like that. I think there’s so much more to high school athletics than just winning. Some people might say, ‘Oh, we’re turning the corner.’ But at the same time, we’ve been a good program, I think, for quite a few years.”

Many Highlanders are enjoying strong individual seasons in the midst of the team’s success.

The versatile Harry can play shooting guard, point guard or small forward. He set the school record for assists in a single game with 16 against Buchanan during a Dec. 30 victory.

“Jeremy makes a lot of things happen for us,” the coach said.

“He’s a strong kid who can defend a lot of different guys on defense. He can score, and he really can create for other people out there on the floor. He’s one of the spark plugs.”

Schaefer is an undersized power forward. With a chuckle, Schafer said he’s 6-foot-2 “on a good day.”

“I like how we’re all working together,” Schaefer said. “Nobody gets mad at each other if we miss a shot. We’re all out here having fun.”

Schaefer uses footwork to gain position for rebounds and putback layups. He said fellow post players Ross Casanova, a senior center, and backup freshman forward Nick Creber have played well down low.

“Ross steps up when we need him to,” Schaefer said. “When Nick comes in for Ross, he’s been getting amazing rebounds.”

Teammates have come up with a clever moniker for Casanova, who has taken a school-record 29 charges this season.

“We’ve nicknamed him MasterCard,” Griffin said.

Matt Padavick is a shooting guard with Reggie Miller range.

With his next 3-point bucket, Padavick will break his own record for trifectas in a single season. He drilled 74 treys entering Thursday. He already owns the Royal record for career 3-pointers with 148.

On Tuesday, Padavick hit a game-winning shot with one second on the clock in overtime to upend Moorpark.

Padavick said the Highlanders, who have won three of five—with the two losses by a combined four points to Westlake and Calabasas—are playing well lately.

“We’re starting to hit our stride,” Padavick said. “This team just doesn’t give up.”

Senior Doug Tavares has blossomed at the point.

“He’s improved this year,” Griffin said. “He’s done a good job becoming a leader and understanding his role.

“The way our team’s structured, Doug’s main job is to distribute.”

The coach also praised his reserves.

Max McCoy, Matt Stern, Michael Molnar, Andrew Hong, Ryan Jaeger and JR Powell contribute off the bench. Junior Ryan Botsford has missed the season with a torn ACL.

“Our subs have been outstanding,” Griffin said. “They’ve been able to fill multiple roles in different games.”

Royal hopes to end the season on a strong note, especially with the Pioneers looming on the horizon.

“I hope people realize that Simi’s not the only powerhouse in town,” Harry said. “We want to beat Simi with a full squad so they can’t say they lost with any ifs, ands or buts.”