Boys' basketball: Thousand Oaks improves to 9-0

The consensus amongst most people in local boys' basketball circles is the Marmonte League is up for grabs this season.

Thousand Oaks apparently has not received the message.
The Lancers stayed undefeated Monday, winning their ninth consecutive game to start the season in a 75-56 victory against Royal in a league opener.

Anthony Jacques had 20 points, Evann Hall had 19, Austin Cagley had 13 and Richard Mullaney had 12 in a balanced effort for Thousand Oaks.

It was the first game at home for the Lancers this year after winning two tournaments out of the area and they couldn't have been more ready to go.

Thousand Oaks made five 3-pointers in the first quarter and never looked back.

"It is so much fun playing in front of the Green Hole (student section)," Jacques said. "There is nothing more exhilarating than playing at home in front of our fans."

Royal made a slight run in the first half to get within four points but Thousand Oaks kept getting any shot it wanted from anywhere on the floor and led by 13 at halftime before extending the lead in the final 16 minutes.

"They out-muscled us and outplayed us," Royal coach Craig Griffin said. "But we will bounce back. It is going to happen sometimes with our young group."

Royal starts three sophomore and one junior and just came off playing back-to-back tournaments in the first two weeks.

J.R. Powell had 22 points, including six 3-pointers to lead the Highlanders (6-3, 0-1).

Max McCoy and Nicholas Creber had nine and eight points, respectively for Royal.

Powell had the hot hand for Royal but it was not enough to overcome Thousand Oaks' balance and nine 3-pointers.

"We were just playing together," Jacques said. "We let the game come to us. We made great passes."

The Lancers start five seniors and experienced veterans like Hall, Jacques and Mullaney, Cagley and Austin Kingi wore down the Highlanders.

"We got beat up mentally," Griffin said. "They kept scoring. They are a physical program in general. We didn't do a good job on the boards."

Despite graduating key players from a year ago, Thousand Oaks has found steady, reliaable seniors to step right in and step up.

"It is surprising to some people I think," Jacques said. "It is definitely a goal to win league. We learn from our seniors before us."