PANTHERS REVEL IN SPIRITED MARMONTE RACE.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Daily News Staff Writer

It's been quite a few years since Newbury Park High School boys' basketball games were considered chic, but that's exactly the perception this year. The Panthers, who share first place in the Marmonte League with Simi Valley, are playing to large, vocal crowds at home in games that actually mean something.

And Steve Johnson loves every minute of it.

``People who haven't been coming to games in awhile are starting to show up now,'' said Johnson, the Panthers coach. His steady hand has been pivotal to the recent turnaround.

The Panthers (12-7, 6-2) host Channel Islands (14-4, 4-4) tonight in a key league game. The rest of the Marmonte League schedule includes Royal (12-8, 4-4) at Agoura (7-9, 4-4), and Westlake (10-9, 3-5) at Simi Valley (16-2, 6-2).

In the Tri-Valley League, Oak Park (13-6, 3-0) hosts St. Bonaventure (7-11, 0-3).

Newbury Park's outstanding start in league play may be a surprise to some, but don't include Simi Valley coach Dean Bradshaw in that group. Bradshaw realized during early season play that the Panthers would be one of the better teams.

``I'm not surprised at all by what they've done,'' Bradshaw said. ``They played well during the summer and they played us tough in our first game against them. At the beginning of the season I projected them as one of the top teams in the league.''

Daniel Bobik has been the Panthers' best all-around player this year. The 6-5 junior swingman has hurt opponents with his outside shot and drives to the basket. In a win against Agoura on Friday, Bobik had 34 points.

``He's answered every challenge this year,'' Johnson said. ``Usually he's the focal point defensively for other teams but he still manages to get his points.''

Johnson also feels that the addition of 6-9 center Jim Newton and the play of guards Mike Bowers and Luther Staine have been critical.

Newton, who missed the early part of the basketball season because of a disciplinary incident that happened at the beginning of the school year, is a defensive stopper whose presence under the basket allows Newbury Park to press opponents and challenge on the perimeter. Staine plays excellent man-to-man defense and Bowers in the Panthers' main ballhandler.

Bowers will need to be especially careful with the ball tonight against the Raiders, an athletic team that likes to play pressure defense.

Johnson is counting on the fact that his club enjoys its current status enough that it will avoid any letdowns the rest of the way. If Newbury Park is going to lose, it will probably come against a better team.

Although Simi Valley has struggled of late - the Pioneers lost to Royal last Wednesday and escaped with an overtime win against Channel Islands on Friday - Bradshaw is pleased with the ways things have gone.

``I think some people picked us to finish in third or fourth place so to be tied for first place right now is great,'' said Bradshaw, who has two freshmen and one sophomore in his starting lineup.