ROYAL TO FACE BUENA; TEAMS MEET IN QUARTERS.

Byline: Heather Gripp Daily News Staff Writer

It's been said since the beginning of the season that Royal has the area's best girls' basketball team. The Highlanders made sure to live up to that reputation.

The season is over for Moorpark and Thousand Oaks while Royal remains as the area's only team in the postseason. The Highlanders travel to Buena for a Southern Section Division I-A quarterfinal game today.

``At the beginning of the season a lot of people said we'd go far,'' senior guard Alicia Weber said, ``and we're kind of following up on that.''

In order to go keep going, though, Royal has to overcome one of the division's best teams. The Bulldogs are the defending Southern Section champions and have played in the past eight championship games. This year they are seeded second.

``They're known out here as `the' program,'' Royal coach Mike Kohl said.

Buena is the division's No. 2 team, but the Highlanders aren't intimidated.

``I think they're beatable,'' said Weber, who, like many of her teammates, has played against Buena's players on club teams. ``Everybody's just trying to get that in their head. We know their style, we know they're strong. They're a good team. It's gonna be a great game.''

Kohl also expects a close game.

``We match up with them pretty darn well,'' he said. ``They expect to win. It's our job to just go in there, there's no pressure on us. If we put together a solid game and they're down at all, we've got a good chance of moving on to the next round.''

Buena is coming off a 52-49 win Wednesday at Righetti, but the Bulldogs' inconsistent play makes them vulnerable.

Royal (25-3) advanced with a 58-53 win over Westminster. Weber did her usual job of leading the offense with a game-high 20 points, but Royal reminded the opposition how dangerous its entire team can be when junior Annette Wilson came through with a key 3-pointer late in the game.

``We pulled it out when we needed to,'' Weber said. ``I'm really proud of this team.''

The Highlanders hit some rough spots with two losses to league rival Thousand Oaks and even in victory, fell short of their potential late in the season. It seems their early-season chemistry that made them unbeatable has returned just in time.

``The middle of our season, the chemistry went down a bit, but it's back,'' Weber said. ``I would say chemistry and teamwork are the key. Like they say, `There's no I in team.' That mean's you need teamwork to win. That's probably the biggest thing.''

Confidence is also an asset for the Highlanders.

``Our kids believe in themselves,'' Kohl said. I've said from the start of the season that these girls have a confidence about them, to the extent that it gives them a little swagger in their step. If you want to win in places like Buena, you've got to have a little bit of swagger.''

The Highlanders are also motivated by the prospect of a rematch with Kepple in the semifinals. The Aztecs handed Royal a season-opening loss and are the only non-league team to beat the Highlanders.

``That's a big motivator,'' Kohl said. ``We want Kepple a lot.''

Quick exit: The area's two other teams that advanced to this week's round of playoffs couldn't survive past Wednesday.

Thousand Oaks' season came to an end with a 58-35 loss at Marina in the Division I-A second round. Liz Nesbitt led the Lancers with nine points while Elena Salvador had seven points and 12 rebounds. The Marmonte League co-champions closed out coach Chuck Brown's final season with an 18-8 record.

Grace Brethren was also eliminated with a 56-37 loss to visiting Lone Pine in the Division V-AA second round.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

PHOTO (1) Becca Voigt, left, Alicia Weber (21) and Teresa Russell, right, of Royal hope to scramble past Buena today.

Evan Yee/Daily News

(2) ``I think they're beatable. . . . We know their style, we know they're strong. They're a good team. It's gonna be a great game.''

-- Alicia Weber, on playoff opponent Buena