Prep basketball notebook: Thousand Oaks boys, Oaks Christian girls rise to the top
Through 25 years as the head boys basketball coach at Thousand Oaks High, which features 10 league championships, three section finals and one CIF-Southern Section crown, Rich Endres knows the end is closer than the beginning.
"There will come the day when it's time to step down," he said. "It will be time to pass the baton to someone else younger and spend a lot more time with my wife and grandchildren. I know that day is coming."
Just not yet.
Seeking the program's first Marmonte League championship since 2015, Endres has the Lancers rolling. Thousand Oaks stands 14-3 overall, 4-0 in league and ranked No. 4 in CIF-SS Division 2A.
Navigating the treacherous waters of a health pandemic has proven tricky, but Thousand Oaks has leaned on an experience-rich roster with 11 seniors to maintain chemistry and find its rhythm.
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As has been Thousand Oaks' calling card all through the Endres era, tough defense and high energy defines this squad.
"It's what we've always wanted to be," said Endres. "We lost it for a few seasons and once you do that it's hard to get it back. With 11 seniors, our players know what they want and they've learned how to do it. It's made a lot of difference for us."
Like everyone else, Thousand Oaks has been tested by COVID protocols and health issues. The Lancers have had their full roster together only a smattering of occasions, Endres said.
Still, the results have been impressive.
Thousand Oaks' best player, 6-foot-5 Caleb Chin, has missed all but five of the team's 16 games with a calf injury and still the Lancers have thrived.
He returned recently and helped spark a decisive 66-46 victory over rival Westlake. Chin tallied 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the victory.
"He's come back like he never missed a game," said Endres. "That's a big boost for us. He gives us that inside presence that's so important to this team."
Chin, when healthy, has averaged 13.6 points and 8.2 rebounds.
The Lancers have plenty of other gifted players that likely add up to a deep run in postseason.
Point guard Patrick Saari averages 12.8 points and 4.3 assists; forward Jack Munro checks in a 10.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game; and sophomore Elias Chin — Caleb's younger brother — is blossoming into an impact player. Elias Chin is averaging 11.4 points and 5.8 rebounds.
The balance makes Thousand Oaks a decided challenge for opposing defenders.
"We've got different guys stepping up every night," said Endres. "Everyone plays a role and that means everyone is ready to go every night. They all know they're needed for us to find success."
With retirement of Ventura's Dan Larson, Endres is now the dean of Ventura County coaches. All these years later has not dulled his enthusiasm.
"When Dan stepped down it made me think," said Endres. "But I'm still having fun, still enjoying what I do. You know what? I'm a basketball coach, and it's really what defines me."
Lions roaring again
A season ago, as basketball programs grappled with the uncertainty of the COVID-19 crisis, the usually stalwart Oaks Christian girls program struggled mightily.
After winning the Marmonte League championship in 2019 and finishing 20-5, the Lions were hit hard last spring by a diminished roster and ended up 1-11.
Guess what? The Lions are back.
Buoyed by a powerful 1-2 punch in ballyhooed freshman point guard Brooklyn Shamblin and 6-foot-3 junior forward Omamoke Okah, Oaks Christian stands 14-2 overall, 3-0 in the Marmonte League, and is ranked No. 1 in CIF-SS Division 3A.
Coach Kristy Hopkins said winning begins with a happy roster.
"They all like each other, the chemistry is very good and they're a fun group to be around," Hopkins said. "They very much enjoy being with each other, and it shows up in the way they play."
Shamblin, at 5-9, is so gifted that she's already committed to USC. She's a product of the Oaks Christian middle school system, so Hopkins knew what was coming.
"I know how talented she is, and she's come in and played so well for us," said Hopkins. "She's not only a great player, but a natural leader."
Okah opted not to play last season, and has returned to lend a stifling defensive presence and an improved scoring touch.
The Lions are getting contributions throughout the lineup, including senior Madison Brothers, sophomore Lola Donez and freshman Faith O'Daniel.
Oaks Christian appears capable of achieving big goals this season, but Hopkins has her players focused on the here and now.
"It really is one game at a time for us," she said. "With so much going on and so much uncertainty, we don't want to look to far ahead. We had to step away for a week, so we're excited to be back on the court and playing games."
Full-court press
There are a couple of clutch achievements for the Camarillo girls team in recent day.
Standout senior Gabriela Jaquez became just the fourth county girls player to surpass 2,000 points in a career. She now has 2,004 points and needs just two points to move into second place on the all-time list.
The Scorpions, meanwhile, now own the sixth all-time league winning streak among girls teams with 52 victories in a row. Camarillo is 21-0 overall this season.
More:
Saturday's Top Prep Performers from basketball, soccer, wrestling and water polo
Friday's Top Prep Performers: Jaquez eclipses 2,000 points for her career
Thursday's Top Prep Performers from soccer, basketball and water polo
Tuesday's Top Prep Performers from basketball, soccer and water polo
Oxnard's Ciara Gallagher set a girls program record with 16 assists in a 75-16 victory over Channel Islands. It's No. 2 all-time in county history. She also surpassed 1,000 points in her career after scoring 18 in a loss to Ventura on Saturday.
Jocelyn Contreras of Hueneme is the first Vikings player to score 35 or more points twice. She tallied 35 points in a 44-27 victory over Malibu while adding 12 rebounds, four steals and three assists. She scored 37 points in a playoff game last spring.
Moorpark boys junior Lucas Fenske continues to excel from long range. He now has 92 3-pointers in 22 games and is just one trey from breaking Todd Tomlinson's single-season program record.
Loren Ledin is the Prep Editor for The Star. He can be reached at loren.ledin@vcstar.com or 805-437-0285.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Thousand Oaks boys, Oaks Christian girls teams rise to the top
