Brea Olinda ends Lancers' magical ride

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers GREAT WHILE IT LASTED—Thousand Oaks High junior guard Jenna Bandy drives to the hoops against Brea Olinda's Jonae Irvin during last Saturday's CIF-SS Division IIAA semifinal. The Thousand Oaks High girls' basketball team's magnificent postseason run ended with a 79-43 loss to state powerhouse Brea Olinda in a CIF-Southern Section Division IIAA semifinal game last Saturday night at Newbury Park High.

"They were just too big for us," head coach Rick Cromwell said of Brea Olinda. "We could only play with them for a half."

Thousand Oaks is set to graduate five seniors—Nanice Kollee, Jannesa Martinez, Kira Gissell, Stephanie Saccardi and Sara Olson—from a squad that posted a 25-5 overall record and finished in second place in the Marmonte League.

The team's top two scorers—sophomore Karina Alofaituli and junior Jenna Bandy—along with five other varsity members are expected to return next season to make a run at the league title and, possibly, a section banner.

"We should have a good chance at the league championship," Cromwell said.

"Newbury Park is always good; Royal is young, and Agoura has a great, young team. You just never know in this league."

TOHS ended the year with 15 wins in its last 17 contests. — Stephen Dorman