It may be time to go ahead and etch Oak Park’s name on the Coastal Canyon League boys basketball championship trophy.
The Eagles thoroughly took care of business Friday with an easy 71-40 victory over Simi Valley, giving the Eagles sole possession of first place in the league standings.
Freshman Riley Battin scored 28 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and made all 11 of his free throws in just three quarters.
“We wanted to come out with energy and we knew it was a big game,” Battin said. “I am happy we could get the ‘W’. We got off on the right track.”
The first-place showdown everybody was expecting to see never materialized. Oak Park (13-6, 3-0) dominated from the outset, jumping to an 18-0 lead.
Simi Valley didn’t score until reserve Jordan Alexander made a basket with 1:20 remaining in the first quarter.
“I think we were a little timid,” Simi Valley coach Ryan Bradshaw said. “They are the best team in the league. Things didn’t go well early. We tried to get back in it. They did a good job packing it in defensively.”
After Simi Valley (8-10, 2-1) cut Oak Park’s lead to 22-13, the Eagles pulled away.
Battin, who scored 12 points in the first quarter, scored seven more in the second quarter, and Nico Posarelli and Trent Hall each made 3-pointers.
Oak Park led by 20 points at halftime and extended the lead to more than 30 in the second half.
Posarelli finished with 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Mike Alvarez scored eight points and had 10 rebounds, and freshman Wes Slajchert added eight points, eight rebounds and six assists.
“I have great teammates and they always find me,” Posarelli said. “They respect me and I respect them. Everything was just clicking tonight.”
Simi Valley could not make a shot early and dug itself an insurmountable hole. Kaden Young was the lone bright spot with four 3-pointers for 12 points. Hamilton finished with eight points and Elijah Holts had six.
Oak Park must recover quickly with a 2:30 p.m. game today at Cerritos College against perennial powerhouse Serra.
“We have to get ready for a much different team and game plan,” Slajchert said.
