The opening of Channel League play was rough for the defending champion San Marcos boys basketball team.
The Royals ran up against a strong, experienced Oxnard squad and got blown out, 74-33, on Tuesday night at the Thunderhut.
Oxnard’s aggressive pressing defense disrupted San Marcos’ rhythm and forced several turnovers, which the Yellowjackets turned into fast-break baskets.
Oxnard also did a good job running its motion offense to create open shots and layups.
They outscored the Royals 25-6 in the second quarter to take a 44-18 halftime lead.
It was 68-30 after three periods.
First-year San Marcos coach James Kinzler said Oxnard (5-0, 1-0) has to be given credit for being “a really good team.” He noted the way the Yellowjackets performed on the court “are some of the things that we aspire to, to be honest.
“They’re so well coached and aggressive at the right times. They’re so precise in their offense and so together on the defensive end.”
The Yellowjackets were coming off winning the title at the Simi Valley Bob Hawking Tip-Off Showcase. San Marcos also played in the tournament and went 1-3.
Senior Reese Widerberg led a balanced Oxnard attack with 17 points. Senior Dominick Contreras got it done in the low post and scored 16 points and senior Jacob Terrill tossed in 15 points.
Ben Treadway and Micah Jacobi each scored eight points to lead San Marcos (2-5, 0-1).
Kinzler called the game “a gut check” for his team.
“It’s still early in the season and we’re growing and learning,” he said. “It’s hard to get a lot of lessons out of a game that gets away from you like that, but we’ll watch the film and look at both technique and where we were missing cuts or missing sets, or just losing our minds.
“And, also just effort, because at the end of the day those are the things that are non-negotiable.”