Simi Valley Girls Post 47-29 Playoff Rout Over Culver City

Dave Murphy apparently has never heard of Murphy’s Law.

He coached the Simi Valley High football team to a 9-3 record and into the second round of the Southern Section playoffs in the fall. Now he’s going to the second round of the playoffs with the Pioneer girls’ basketball team.

The Pionners beat Culver City, 47-29, Saturday night at Simi Valley in the first round of the Southern Section 4-A playoffs.

The victory was Simi Valley’s 13th straight, including a 12-0 sweep through the Marmonte League.

Both teams were tentative at the start, but Culver City (19-7) shook off the jitters first and took a 12-3 lead late in the first quarter.

Carin Ishida, the Centaurs’ 5-3 point guard, scored six points in the run, all on long-range shots.

“We were getting the shots we wanted,” Murphy said, “so there was no need to panic.”

Wendy Morgan certainly didn’t. Simi Valley’s 6-1 center scored six of her game-high 17 points in a 12-1 Pioneer streak, turning a nine-point deficit into a 17-13 lead with 2 1/2 minutes left in the second quarter.

“She really played a heckuva game tonight,” Murphy said.

Simi Valley allowed only two free throws in the second quarter as the Centaurs missed all eight shots from the field.

Culver City hit a slump after the first quarter (7 for 32) and turned the ball over 28 times.

Ishida and forward Nina Revoyr led Culver City with eight points. Freshman Melissa Punch had 11 rebounds.

Simi Valley (20-4) which plays Gahr High on Wednesday night in the second round, also got 11 points from Julie Arolotto. Demita Roseborough had seven rebounds and Morgan blocked five shots.

The basketball season will be over soon for Murphy. Anyone need a baseball coach?