Thousand Oaks Takes Care of No. 1 Notre Dame, 81-57

By ERIC SONDHEIMER

Jan. 7, 2001 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

ENCINO — “Watch this.”

Those were the prophetic words of Kyle Kegley, Thousand Oaks High three-point specialist, warning of the destruction he was about to inflict on top-ranked Notre Dame High after taking the court to start the second half Saturday night.

Kegley scored 13 of his 27 points in the third quarter, helping turn a six-point halftime lead into a 25-point bulge.

Thousand Oaks cruised to an 81-57 victory over the Knights in the featured game of the six-game Mission-Marmonte League Challenge at Crespi High.

Notre Dame (14-2) looked worn out from the outset.

An emotional two-point victory Friday night over Mission rival Chaminade left the Knights unprepared for a Thousand Oaks team that finally showed how well it can play when its three-point shooters are on target.

The Lancers (11-4) made a season-high 11 three-pointers. Kegley had four and Dave Anderson, who finished with 20 points, also had four.

“Last year we were one of the best shooting teams,” Kegley said. “This year we haven’t clicked. We’ve had some spurts.”

Coach Richard Endres of Thousand Oaks has given his players the green light to fire away.

“We’re free to shoot as many threes as we want as long as we’re open,” Anderson said.

Notre Dame lacked defensive intensity and displayed the kind of fatigue expected from playing three games in four days.

And the Knights had good company. Also going down Saturday was No. 3 Simi Valley, which lost to Crespi, 67-52.

The Pioneers were worn down after one-point Marmonte road victories over Moorpark and Westlake.

It was the first year of the Mission-Marmonte Challenge and might be the last for some schools. Several coaches expressed concern about playing in the middle of league play.

“I’ll tell you who’s a genius--Jeff Young,” said Coach Rob DiMuro of Notre Dame, referring to the Chaminade coach who decided not to have his team participate in the tournament.

Cody Pearson was limited to a season-low four points for Notre Dame. Mike Luderer scored 20 points but was almost banned from playing by his principal after showing up with his hair in rubber-band braids.

“We’re afraid of him getting satellite signals,” DiMuro said.

Crespi 67, Simi Valley 52--The Celts (12-3) made nine three-pointers and became the first Valley team to defeat the Pioneers (13-3) over the last two seasons.

Andrew Moore, coming out of a shooting slump, scored 24 points, including four three-pointers.

Dustin Villepigue had 26 points and 13 rebounds for Simi Valley.

“This is a huge win for our program,” Moore said. “Simi Valley has been the top program in the area the last four, five years.”

Newbury Park 54, St. Francis 52--Adam Carlson’s three-point play with 50 seconds left gave the Panthers (11-4) the lead for good. Carlson finished with 15 rebounds. Aaron Bobik had 16 points and 13 rebounds for Newbury Park.

Agoura 48, Calabasas 46--Jamie Patton put in an offensive rebound basket as the buzzer sounded to help the Chargers (12-2) avoid losing to the Coyotes (5-11) for the second time this season.

Alemany 68, Royal 66--A 33-point performance by Evan Cline was just enough to lift the Indians (5-9) past the Highlanders (1-11).

Westlake 76, Harvard-Westlake 53--Adam Mazarei scored 16 points and had eight assists for Westlake (6-6).