Agoura edges Thousand Oaks to capture Marmonte League boys basketball title

Nasir Meyer has uncovered the ideal mindset whenever he forms his thoughts before taking pressure free throws.

His best course of action is ... why think at all?

"I wasn't thinking about anything," the Agoura High junior said with a grin just a few minutes after stepping to the free-throw line with 4.8 seconds remaining and the Chargers up by a single point in the most important game of the regular season. "I just go up there and make the shots."

Meyer, a 6-foot-6 forward, coolly and calmly sank both free throws to decisively finish off a powerful night's work and help rally host Agoura to a clutch 48-45 victory over Thousand Oaks in their Marmonte League championship showdown Tuesday night.

Meyer scored a game-high 19 points after a scoreless first quarter and Zane Miller added 12 points as Agoura rallied from a 21-8 deficit at the top of the second quarter to win its second league crown in three seasons. The Chargers were league champs in 2021 and advanced to the CIF-Southern Section Division 2A championship final.

Agoura improves to 18-9 overall and 8-1 in league, and will finish the regular season at Calabasas on Thursday night. Thousand Oaks, despite 14 points from Trent MacLean, will settle for second place in league at 6-3 (19-7 overall).

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The Lancers close out the regular season vs. Newbury Park on Thursday.

Agoura's matchup with Thousand Oaks — which avenged a 58-50 loss to the Lancers on Jan. 13 — was a gritty, feisty, free-for-all characterized by fierce defense and clutch offense. In other words, another typical night in the Marmonte League.

The Chargers said it required all-in production to prevail.

"We got off to the slow start, but we knew if we played with energy and effort and kept playing hard on defense, we could still win this game," said Meyer. "Our shots started to fall and our confidence started to grown. We trust each other and rely on each other."

Miller, whose brother Jed led the Chargers' surge in 2021, said it's a group effort that sparks Agoura.

"Everybody plays hard, everybody contributes," he said. "When we play with energy and confidence, we feel like we can beat anybody. We knew it was going to be a challenge tonight. We knew that we needed to keep going after it the entire game."

Agoura coach Conley Oliver said he's got a special group of players.

"They bring it every day in practice, and it certainly carries over to the effort they put out in games," he said. "They're so determined to win, so driven by passion and love for the game."

He added with a chuckle: "They listen to me every day, which sometimes is why they lose a game. But they always play with pride. They always play for each other."

Agoura took an early 3-2 lead on a 3-pointer by Ignacio Spayne, then fell behind 18-6 and 21-8. Thousand Oaks got the hot-shooting start, but the momentum changed in the second quarter.

Meyer came alive with nine points, including a slam dunk and three-point play that trimmed the deficit to 26-23 at halftime.

Trailing 31-27 in the third quarter, the Chargers took charge with a 9-0 run that earned a 36-31 lead near the end of the period. Agoura never trailed again.

Thousand Oaks didn't go away either. Elias Chin (9 points) completed a 3-point play with 2:48 remaining in the fourth quarter to pull within two points at 45-43. Jacob Kjarval hit a pair of free throws with 6.1 seconds on the clock as Thousand Oaks trailed, 46-45.

Meyer stepped up after taking the intentional foul. His two made free throws produced a 48-45 advantage. Chin's desperation 3-point heave at the other end missed the mark.

Agoura's league championship in 2021 — its first league title since 1995 — sparked the run to the section title game. Oliver won't look ahead.

"One game at a time," he said. "Our guys know that. We won't even think about the playoffs until we get started. Our next focus is Thursday night, because we know Calabasas wants to beat us and hand us a second league loss."

The CIF-SS playoff pairings will be announced Sunday.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Agoura captures Marmonte League boys basketball title