PIONEERS BACK ON WINNING PATH : SIMI VALLEY IN FIRST PLACE AFTER TRAMPLING CAMARILLO.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Daily News Staff Writer

The Camarillo High School basketball team learned the hard way last Friday that you probably don't want to play Simi Valley if its coming off a loss in its last game.

The Pioneers, still seething over a surprising setback at Agoura on Wednesday, took their frustrations out on the Scorpions, pounding them 94-70 to regain first place in the Marmonte League.

``You've got to play them sometime,'' Camarillo coach Mike Prewitt said after the game.

Tonight the Pioneers (15-1, 5-1) host Royal (11-7, 3-3). The Highlanders last saw their crosstown rivals in the final of the Hart tournament. Simi Valley won the game rather easily, but considering tonight's game is a Marmonte League contest and taking into account the intensity of this rivalry, nobody expects the Pioneers to simply walk away with the win.

Royal is coming off a loss against Channel Islands on Friday. The Highlanders share third place with Thousand Oaks (10-7, 3-3) and Channel Islands (13-3, 3-3).

In other Marmonte League games tonight, Newbury Park is on the road against Thousand Oaks; Westlake hosts Agoura; and Channel Islands is at Camarillo.

In an area Tri-Valley League game, Oak Park travels to Carpinteria.

``It'll be a good game for us,'' said Eagles coach Rob Hall. ``They play us pretty well.''

Oak Park (11-6, 1-0) faces a tough week, playing Carpinteria tonight and then hosting Fillmore on Friday during finals week.

Hall is discouraged with his team's recent efforts on defense and hopes that the Eagles can shore up their problems guarding the perimeter.

Guard Randy Gastwirt and forward John Murphy have been solid all year for Oak Park.

Agoura hopes to bounce back from a tough loss to Thousand Oaks Friday night with a solid effort tonight against Westlake. The Chargers upset Simi Valley on Wednesday and were hoping to maintain a share of first place with a win against the Lancers.

Instead, Agoura slipped hard in the second half and fell back to second place.

``In a way I feel like that loss got us back on track,'' said Agoura coach Bill Sanchez, who admits his players may have been a bit too overconfident after beating Simi Valley.

Sanchez' biggest complaint with his team was poor free throw shooting, tentative play in the second half and an inability to contain Thousand Oaks guards Brian Freeth and Joe Riccio. The backcourt aces combined for 24 points over the final two quarters to pave the way to the win.

At the same time, Sanchez is confident the Chargers can bounce back.

``We just need to understand the type of team we are and what we have to do,'' Sanchez said. ``Overall I think we're a good team, but we have to play well in all areas to be successful. We are not good enough where we can play poorly in one area and still expect to win.''

Marcus Helfman scored 21 points to lead Agoura Friday.

For Thousand Oaks, the win was critical. The Lancers are currently in a five-team battle for second and third place in the Marmonte League. A loss on Friday and they would have fallen below .500 in league action.

Newbury Park shares second place with Agoura. The Panthers won two games last week behind Daniel Bobik, who scored 34 points in a victory against Camarillo and 17 in a win over Westlake.

Newbury Park has also gotten contributions from Robert Congelliere and Luther Staine. And the return 6-9 center Jim Newton has bolstered the team's inside game.

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Photo: (Ran in Conejo and Simi) Newbury Park's Dainel Bobik has scored 51 points in the Panthers' past two victories.

Phil McCarten / Daily News