Westlake boys take third place in basketball at league championships

The Warriors were only narrowly beaten by league champs Moorpark twice during the regular seasonAcorn Sports Writer


HITTING THE BOARDS--Rob Daniel of Westlake grabs a rebound during a recent regular seaon game against the eventual Marmonte League champions, the Moorpark Musketeers.

HITTING THE BOARDS–Rob Daniel of Westlake grabs a rebound during a recent regular seaon game against the eventual Marmonte League champions, the Moorpark Musketeers.


The Warriors were only narrowly beaten by league champs Moorpark twice during the regular season

Acorn Sports Writer

The Westlake boys’ basketball team playing under first-year coach Tom Donahue easily defeated Simi Valley, 77-51, on their home court in Westlake last Friday night, taking third-place in the Marmonte League championships.


P.J. Issacson, a senior guard/forward, scored 32 points in the victory while senior guard/forward Jonathan Wiley added 13 and junior forward Michael Stuart contributed 10. The win improved Westlake to 7-4 in league games and 18-9 overall.


Donahue, who teaches geography and world history at Westlake, said he was pleased with how the regular season had gone, even if the goal had been to play and win in the first-place game at the Marmonte League championships.


"I thought we had a nice regular season. I really did. I thought we played hard," Donahue said. "We lost by one to Moorpark (the eventual league champs) and by two. We played as a team and I’m a little disappointed that we didn’t win a championship. That was our goal.


"(But) we finished third," Donahue added. "That’s better than finishing fifth, so overall I’m pretty happy with the boys."


The Warrior coach said Westlake could surprise some people in the postseason. "I think we’re going to be very dangerous in the playoffs," Donahue said. "If we play hard and if we get a good seed, we’ll be alright."


Rob Daniel scored two points in the win over Simi Valley. He started for the Westlake football team that advanced all the way to the CIF finals this fall and he was satisfied with the Warriors effort at the league championships.


"I think for the first time we really worked as a team," Daniel said. "We showed people that we deserved to be in the first-place game, and I think we will show every one else that we have what it takes to play in the playoffs."


Wiley said Westlake would have preferred playing for the title, but playing for third was some consolation. "Our whole team wanted to be in the first-place game, but we’re still happy we could step it up and play for third," Wiley said.


Issacson said the Warriors might be peaking at the right time. "We’re on a roll right now, we’re playing real well. Some guys stepped up tonight, and if they keep stepping up, that can carry us deep into the playoffs," he said.


About the impending playoffs, Daniel said, "I think we’re going fool a lot of people. I think they’re going to come in not expecting to play against such a well-rounded team that we have."


Wiley and Issacson praised their coach.


"He’s helped us a lot," Wiley said of Donahue. "We have a lot of good talent. This year all the pieces really came together."


Said Issacson, "As soon as he (Coach Donahue) came, he kind of got on our case, but you know that he’s getting on your case for a reason. He gets on your case because he cares about you and he cares about the way you play. And he really wants to win, which is what I love."


About the four-game setup during the Marmonte League finals, featuring a seventh-place game then a fifth-place game, a third-place game then a championship game, Donahue at first said he liked the format then quickly said you have to win, no matter the venue.


"I like the setup," said the Warrior coach. But then he added, "I really don’t care what kind of setup we have. I think that we should win every game and I don’t care what kind of setup they have because you have to win them all, anyway. So, it doesn’t matter to me."


Has he enjoyed his first year at Westlake after teaching and coaching at Santa Paula?


"Absolutely. I was very happy teaching and coaching at the school and I hope to be there for many more years," Donahue said.




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