Simi Valley Takes Note, Then Sends a Message

THOUSAND OAKS — Bad idea to pass notes.

It will get you in trouble in class. And on the basketball court.

Thanks to some unexpected pregame inspiration, the Simi Valley High girls’ basketball team defeated Thousand Oaks, 78-66, in a Marmonte League game Tuesday night at the Lancers’ gym.

Before the game, a Thousand Oaks player handed Simi Valley standout Tawnee Cooper an inflammatory note.

Cooper then went out and dismantled Thousand Oaks by scoring 30 points as Simi Valley (19-2, 8-1 in league play) pulled into a first-place tie with the Lancers (14-5, 8-1).

Cooper, who has signed with UC Santa Barbara, was unstoppable on drives to the basket and also was tough on the offensive boards.

A piece of paper wasn’t going to stop her Tuesday.

“We wanted this,” said Cooper, who grabbed nine rebounds and declined comment on the pregame note except to say, “It made me mad.”

Cooper’s teammates, who said they found other negative notes in their locker room, also were sparked.

“We got the last laugh,” said Jamie Griffin, who had 15 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. “No note’s going to stop us from our game.”

When the teams met last month, Simi Valley stopped itself, throwing away a 14-point lead and losing by six.

Not this time.

Thanks to a stellar third quarter by Griffin, who scored nine points, including a short jumper with three seconds left in the quarter, Simi Valley took a 62-47 lead.

The Pioneers increased the lead to 17 points three times.

Any time Thousand Oaks closed the gap, it was reopened by the Pioneers, who didn’t exactly shoot well in the second half, making 12 of 25 shots (48%), but converted several easy shots and beat Thousand Oaks seemingly to every loose rebound.

“We just got lost on defense,” said Jenn Detmer, who scored 18 points for Thousand Oaks. “It wasn’t one person’s fault. Our defense just wasn’t up to par.”

Nicole Woodruff scored 17 points for Thousand Oaks.