Camarillo Takes Turn for the Worse on Final Newbury Park Basket

The Marmonte League boys’ basketball game between Camarillo and Newbury Park high schools Friday night could have been billed as a charity event for a local hospital.

Host Camarillo was without David Harbour, who had been averaging 20 points a game but was sidelined by an ankle injury. Frank Dews (14-point average) was limited to reserve status because of a bronchial infection.

In Newbury Park’s sick bay, weakened by the flu, were leading scorer Wayne Cook, starting guard Anthony Rutter and Coach Ken Barone.

But in the end, it was the visiting Panthers who rose from their collective sick bed to upset Camarillo, 65-64.

Cook, who did not start but had a game-high 21 points and 12 rebounds, tipped in a missed free throw by Amil El Farra with 4 seconds left to give Newbury Park (12-5, 3-3 in league play) the come-from-behind win.

It was an uphill battle for the Panthers the entire game.

Camarillo (12-5, 4-2) led by 12 points in the third quarter, but Chris Falzone scored 5 of his 16 points in the last 90 seconds of the quarter to keep Newbury Park close, 46-42.

It then looked like the Scorpions would put the game away as Dews scored 6 of his 15 points during the first 3 minutes of the final period to help Camarillo open a 58-48 lead.

The Panthers fought back, however, outscoring Camarillo, 13-2, to give Newbury Park its first lead, 61-60, with 2:15 left.

After the teams traded baskets, Jeff Castellanos punctuated a steal with a breakaway layup to give Camarillo a 64-63 lead with 40 seconds to go.

Newbury Park worked the clock down until El Farra drove the lane and was fouled with 7 seconds left.

El Farra missed both free throws, but Cook slipped into the lane after the second miss and tipped in the game-winner.

Barone said that his team deserved a win after a couple of tough losses. “We lost by three to Royal then we lost a game in overtime in league. We finally deserved one, especially after a lot of people wrote us off already. We’re still in the hunt,” he said.

Scott Foster of Camarillo and Newbury Park’s Falzone each scored 16 points to lead their respective teams.