WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers DRIVE THE LANE—Newbury Park High senior power forward Doris Park-Sherman heads to the hoop in a win over Westlake. Park-Sherman leads the Panthers in points and rebounds per contest. Before the season began for the Newbury Park High girls' basketball team, many Panthers wrote down their goals on a sheet of paper.

One goal that showed up on numerous lists was to go undefeated in the Marmonte League.

"It was written down by most of the team, especially the seniors," senior guard Sidney Dobner said.

"We've been close a couple times, so we thought it was a reasonable goal. We're playing well right now, so it's in the back of our minds to go undefeated."

With a 56-35 win over Simi Valley on Tuesday, Newbury Park improved to 18-4 overall, and a perfect 11-0 in league play. For the Panthers to run the table in the Marmonte, they'll have to defeat Calabasas at home tonight, as well as Thousand Oaks and Royal at home next week.

One person who knows all about going undefeated in league is senior Doris Park-Sherman. ParkSherman, who was a freshman on the 2006 squad that went 14-0 in league, said she tells her squad to focus on one game at a time.

"Our goal is listed on a whiteboard in our locker room, and every game it's just our record in league if we win that night," ParkSherman said. "If we're 100 at the time, then we write down 11-0 on the board."

Park-Sherman is a big reason Newbury Park has been successful. The power forward is leading the Panthers in scoring with 14 points per game and is the team's leading rebounder with 11 boards per contest.

"At the start of games, I usually look to rebound more than score points," Park-Sherman said. "We have a lot of offensive weapons, but I know my team needs me more for my rebounding."

Head coach Nori Parvin, who won her 500th career game earlier this season, has been impressed with Park-Sherman's play.

"Her rebounding has been huge for us," Parvin said. "She might not always make her baskets early in the game, but she always has that great smile, and she tries to contribute to the team in any way she can."

The other half of the Panthers' one-two punch is Dobner, the team's point guard. Dobner is averaging 13 points per game and is also leading the squad with 72 assists. Dobner said Park-Sherman makes her a better player.

"I've known Doris for a long time, and there is no way I could do anything on the court without her," Dobner said. "She's my No. 1 person on the team, and we hang out all the time together.

"I remember playing at Parvin's camps growing up, and saying 'Someday, I'm going to play for (Parvin) at NPHS.' Doris would always then quickly say, 'Well, then, I'm coming, too.'"

Parvin said Dobner has become more relaxed this season.

"She's our quarterback on the court, so to speak," Parvin said. "She played on the golf team for me this past fall, and I believe it taught her to become more patient on the court."

Dobner laughed at Parvin's remark.

"It was actually really tough going from basketball to golf because I'm used to moving around so much, and in golf you kind of have to just stand still for the majority of the time," Dobner said.

"It did help with my mindset while playing basketball, I guess."

Although Dobner will often try to get the ball to ParkSherman, the two seniors are hardly the Panthers' only two options. Another big reason for Newbury Park's winning ways has been its depth.

"We don't have the height that we've had in the past, but a big strength of ours is the bench and the rest of the starting lineup," Parvin said. "I feel I can put anyone in the game and our offense doesn't skip a beat."

Another offensive option is sophomore Jasmine Polk, who's in her first year at NPHS after moving from Texas. Polk is averaging 8.9 points per game and led all scorers with 16 points in last week's win at home against Westlake.

"She's been a great addition to this team," Dobner said about Polk. "She picked up our offense right away because in the past she's played the same sort of style that we're used to. You can say we got very lucky when she joined the team."

Other players contributing for Newbury Park include sophomores Hanna Burge, Grifyn Flattery, Marissa Campbell and Arianna Roberts; juniors Kamryn Koga and Lauren Hill; as well as seniors Kirby Welsh, Jordan Bridges and Nataly Brambila.

Park-Sherman said Brambila and Burge are the team's unsung heroes.

"Nataly's defense is amazing, and she helps us pull through games year after year," Park-Sherman said. "Hanna is a good shooter, and is money on her 3-pointers."

Although Newbury Park has owned the Marmonte recently by claiming six league titles this decade, the team hasn't won a CIFSouthern Section championship since 1995.

Dobner said being perfect in league would be special, but there's nothing she wants more than to leave high school with a section banner.

"We always have the playoffs in the back of our minds," Dobner said. "We can never seem to go past the second round of the playoffs, so it would be great to get past that round this year. It would be a great moment for all of us."