Moorpark's Basketball Team Keeps on Winning

AGOURA HILLS – After finishing just 4-22 last season, including a 1-13 league record, Moorpark High's boys basketball team is in the midst of quite a turnaround.

The Musketeers opened Marmonte League competition on the road Monday night and came away with its eighth victory in nine games with an 81-71 at Agoura – an opponent that swept the Musketeers last year.

"The first one is always the best one," said senior Lionel Poole, who scored 16 points with nine rebounds and five steals. "We've been here a lot of times and never came out with the victory. We were pumped up."

Jake Myers added a game-high 21 points for the Musketeers, drilling five 3-pointers. The sophomore guard is new to varsity this year, but wasn't exactly unknown.

"When I was a junior I heard about a freshman that could just shoot the lights out," Poole said. "I didn't expect it. So it's nice to see him step up in these varsity games as a sophomore."

Phillip Chang's 16 points led the way for the Chargers, who lost their third game in a row. This time they were hurt by some bad free throw shooting (13-of-26) and a sloppy second quarter that saw Moorpark take control.

"The foul line really hurt us and there was a couple of moments where our seniors could have finished some easy shots at the basket and they just didn't go," Agoura coach Joe Riccio said.

After a back-and-forth first quarter that saw the lead change 10 times, the Musketeers went on a run in the second quarter. Jordan Russell's basket gave Moorpark a 40-28 lead and capped a 14-5 run.

"A couple of bad passes, and momentum swings really quick," Riccio said.

Added Poole: "We were just aggressive. Our motto is not to let them get the ball.'"

The Chargers (5-4) never led in the second half, getting as close to four points four times. But every time Agoura drew close, Moorpark had an answer.

Myers drilled a pair of 3-pointers in the third quarter, and his last 3-pointer gave the Musketeers a 66-59 lead with 5:36 remaining.

"He's a very good shooter and that's what helps," coach Eddie Gutierrez said. "We get on a run, we hit a couple of layups, and we can then find (Jake) in transition. He hit a couple of backbreakers in that third quarter to get us going."

Russell and John Lenox added 13 and 12 points for the Musketeers, whose lone loss was a 48-47 setback to league foe Simi Valley Royal this past Friday in the Moorpark tournament championship.

Moorpark has already doubled its win total of last season with 13 more league games to see how far they've come.

"The difference is we shoot the ball a little better now," Gutierrez said. "The kids are also growing and have been in the program for three years. It's been huge how they've worked on their games in the offseason and it has been carrying over. That's all them. They've worked for it." 

Calabasas and Thousand Oaks shared the Marmonte League title last season, and both recorded league victories on Monday. Thousand Oaks (9-0) is still undefeated after a 75-56 victory over Royal, while Calabasas took a 59-44 victory over Newbury Park.

Gutierrez wouldn't offer any predictions on the league race. He's just hopeful his Musketeers can keep improving.

"Every game is competition for us, we just want to compete," Gutierrez said. "It's so hard to predict in this league. Someone may rise up that you don't think is going to, or the people that have been up there will stay there. We're just going to keep competing and see what happens."

BOX SCORE

MOORPARK (81)

Jake Myers 21, Lionel Poole 16, Jordan Russell 13, John Lenox 12, Mitchell Sagely 8, Ziva Sarbu 5, David Gonzalez 2, Miles Kozlowski 2, Matt Marion 2.

AGOURA (71)

Phillip Chang 16, Steven Wilson 14, Clay Priskorn 12, Shayan Boloor 9, Tony Wallace 7, Chase Isaacs 6, Justin Hall 3, Max Simon 2, Eric Budginas 2.

Halftime: Moorpark 42-34. 3-pointers: Myers 5 (M), Russell (M) 1, Lenox (M) 1; Isaacs (A) 1, Hall (A) 1. Fouled out: None. Technicals: Agoura bench.