WINTER SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS : GIRLS BASKETBALL

Paced by the scoring and rebounding of seniors Julie Arlotto and Paula Cooper, the Simi Valley High girls basketball team defeated Royal, 67-23, Tuesday night.

Arlotto, a 5-11 forward, scored a game-high 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Cooper, a 5-10 center, finished with 15 points and pulled down 12 rebounds. Arlotto had seven points in the third quarter.

“We’re gradually improving. Our first-quarter intensity level was down, but we picked it up in the other quarters,” said Simi Valley Coach Dave Murphy, whose team has won 14 straight Marmonte League games over two years, and is 11-3 overall this season.

In the final three periods, Royal (2-6 overall and 0-2 in league play) was held to 15 points.

Simi Valley is 31-8 over the past two seasons.

“Our overall record is impressive and I’m glad about that,” Murphy said. “But our real goal is to win league, and to be able to play with some of the strong teams when the playoffs roll around.”