Warrior boys continue to improve in basketball

With a win over Newbury Park, 54-41, and then over Agoura, 74-65, the Westlake boys’ basketball team began the Marmonte League season 2-0 last week and improved to 13-5 overall under first-year coach Tom Donahue.

In the win at Newbury Park, Rob Daniel, a 6-foot-4 senior forward, led the Warriors with 17 points. And against Agoura, Jonathan Wiley, a 6-5 senior guard/forward, hit for 28 points while Mike Verillo, a 6-foot senior guard, had 24, and Daniel added 10.

After the win in the league-opener over Newbury Park, Donahue said things are falling into place at this point in the season.

"It’s going pretty well right now," Donahue said. "Tonight it was a great effort defensively. Offensively, we could be a little better in our execution, passing the ball maybe three or four more times each possession."

Donahue said a player should take a shot if he’s open right away, but if not, he prefers his players to pass the ball around, have as many people touch the ball as possible, and make their opponent work hard on defense.

"I like everyone to touch the ball," he said. "Of course, if somebody is open, I want him to shoot it. If we have one pass and a great shot, take it—but if not, then let them play a little bit of defense."

Donahue shared more about his offensive philosophy.

"I like to run motion offense, setting screens," he said. "And I like to run a lot of set plays, about 10-15 set plays."

The new coach said he’s pleased with his team’s progress but added that he’ll never be totally satisfied. There’s always room for improvement, according to Donahue.

"It’s about where I expected to be," he said about the Warrior record two games into league season. "But I’m still not satisfied nearly at all. I think we could still be playing better, and we’re going to work on that tomorrow (at practice). I just think the offensive execution and our rebounding can improve."

Have there been any surprises in Year One as the Westlake boys’ basketball coach?

"The football players are coming along pretty well," Donahue said. "I hope they keep their attitude up. They bring a toughness and a winning attitude to the team."

While Daniel has obviously gotten plenty of playing time, Michael Stuart, Jimmy Miller, Danny Tromello and Martin Reynoso, all juniors, play less after joining the team late, due to the football team’s trip through the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) playoffs, where they lost in the finals.

Now they’re getting their basketball legs, Donahue said, adding that he wouldn’t be surprised if the football players, along with Daniel, begin to play a significant role.

The group that’s been there before the football players arrived includes P.J. Issacson, a 6-3 senior guard/forward (currently out briefly with broken fingers); Amir Mazarei, a 6-foot guard (currently out with a knee injury, but expected back); Josh Berry, a 6-3 senior forward; junior center Aaron Boone (6-6); Ryan Burke, a 6-1 senior guard; junior forward Matt Schneider (6-3); and Wiley and Verillo.

"Those guys have been around a while," Donahue said of the roster’s core.