Panthers Winning, Bit by Bit

NEWBURY PARK —  Tonight, on Newbury Park, 91320:

Cassandra and Rachel plot to bury a rival and Bridget is released from the hospital.

Yes, the fur flies during cat fights and court drama.

But this is no Aaron Spelling-inspired night-time soap opera.

The Newbury Park High girls’ basketball team is a prime-time ensemble and a Coach Nori Parvin production.

There is no petty jealousy or infighting here, just a happy family that resembles the Waltons more than anyone at Melrose Place.

The only cat fights involve the Panthers scrambling for loose balls and rebounds.

It’s a group of role and bit players who have climbed to No. 3 in the Southern Section Division II-A rankings and won the Marmonte League championship.

Newbury Park (22-4) hosts Burroughs (19-8) tonight at 7:30 in a second-round game.

“I never expected to do what we’ve done to this point,” Parvin said. “But the chemistry has been incredible on this team.”

Bridget Harris, the only player averaging more than nine points, is out for the season because of a knee injury that required surgery last week.

When she was injured last month, Newbury Park had an 11-game winning streak. Without her, that streak has grown to a region-best 17 games.

“One player is not going to throw off the balance of this team,” Harris said. “This is a good all-around team.”

Seven players have led the Panthers in scoring this season.

In some games, their reserves have outscored the starting lineup. In others, no one has scored in double figures, yet Newbury Park has won by more than 20 points.

Cassandra Harris, no relation to Bridget, leads the Panthers, averaging 8.7 points and 6.2 rebounds.

The contributions come from all directions, much like Newbury Park’s relentless defense.

Jamie Dirksing, Rachel Hever, Nancy Pabon, Alex Mallen, Oli Keohohou, Erica McGuire, Erin Edrosolan and Jessie Goddard are among the players who have taken turns standing out.

“There’s no pressure on any one of us,” Mallen said. “If one person is having an off night, you know there will be someone else to pick up.”

Parvin routinely rotates 12 players, no matter the score.

“If you look from another team’s perspective, you can’t just shut down one player,” said Pabon, a guard. “You have to shut down the whole team to beat Newbury Park, and that’s tough to do.”