Boys basketball notebook: Westlake shows grit in rallying from adversity
Week by week, the Westlake High boys basketball team has accumulated success in each game it plays.
Whether it wins or not.
Talk about rallying from adversity. The Warriors lost key starters River Ortiz and point guard Aidan Delavari to injuries at the start of the season and faced the daunting task of a competing in the stacked Marmonte League with an inexperienced lineup.
"This is basketball, where you have five guys on the court," says coach Kyle Kegley. "To lose two starters can be devastating. Younger guys have to step up. Everyone has to take responsibility."
So it has been.
Westlake won't win the league championship. The Warriors are a long shot to claim one of the three automatic qualifying spots. They need a victory over Newbury Park on Thursday night and a Calabasas loss to Agoura to pull into a third-place tie.
The record is 16-11 overall and 4-5 in league.
But the Warriors have dug deep and played hard and been more than an handful for every opponent. They've clearly won the respect of their coach.
More:Agoura edges Thousand Oaks to capture Marmonte League boys basketball title
More:Tuesday's Top Prep Performers: Local teams clinch league championships
"It's a gritty and feisty group that plays extremely hard and never get down on themselves," Kegley said of his players. "They get along and they believe in each other. It's been a tough season where every league game is a fight to the finish. I've never seen the league so even from top to bottom. These guys love playing and competing. They're a self-motivated group who keep giving everything they have."
Kegley, who starred as a player at Thousand Oaks before launching his coaching career, is as hard-nosed a competitor as there is in the region. He'd rather fall out of a four-story building than take a loss.
Only he concedes that winning isn't everything this season.
"It's been special just to be around these players and I'm so happy to be able to work with them and watch them grow," Kegley. "This season is nothing but a positive. Success is how hard you work and how much you love playing the game. That's what these team is all about."
There have been monumental victories.
Just last Friday, Westlake stunned league strongboy Thousand Oaks on the Lancers' home court, 68-56. Austin Maziasz, a sophomore guard/forward, racked up 27 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Kayden Elsokary contributed 11 rebounds and six assists.
"I've been around the league as a player and coach for 25 years, and that's as good of a victory I've enjoyed," said Kegley.
Maziasz and Elsokary have assumed impact roles after the loss of the injured starters. Braylon Butout, Danny Bao and Dante Deshautelle fill key roles.
Westlake's winning record and presence in a rugged league puts it in good position to earn an at-large berth in Division 2AA when the CIF-Southern Section reveals its pairings Sunday. That's the hope, said Kegley.
"I think these players have earned the right to compete in the playoffs," said Kegley. "We look forward to the opportunity."
LOOK OUT FOR THE PIONEERS
The county's most under-the-radar boys basketball team could be a tough out in the CIF-SS playoffs.
Simi Valley has already demonstrated its worth in the regular season and Coastal Canyon League race.
The Pioneers stand 18-8 overall and 6-1 in league. They retain a crack at first place when they play host to Oak Park (17-9, 7-0) on Thursday night.
Simi Valley dropped a tight 62-58 verdict at Oak Park on Jan. 18.
Coach Craig Griffin, enjoying a bona fide homecoming in his first season as the Pioneers coach, says its a group high on intangibles.
"They're tough and determined, and bring so much energy to every practice and every game," Griffin said. "They accept corrections and critiques and never look on learning from mistakes as a negative. They just want to get better, and they've done that every day."
Is Griffin feeling at home inside the Simi Valley gym? Absolutely.
He's a Simi Valley graduate and former Pioneer star who helped the team reach the CIF-SS championship game in 1993. Upon launching his coaching career, he spent 20 seasons at crosstown rival Royal High before returning to Simi Valley.
"It's definitely special for me to be coaching here," he said. "I spent so many years inside this gymnasium."
Griffin got to know his new players from Day 1 of practices, using three-on-three games to learn strengths and weaknesses.
The Pioneers have emerged as a hard-nosed, defensive-oriented group that also boasts a prolific scorer. Ryder Mjoen, a 6-foot-1 junior guard, averages 21 points per game along with 4.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists. He's notched 48 3-pointers.
"He's a great kid who's focused on getting better," said Griffin. "He's worked hard on his shot selection, and mostly takes only good shots. He's become a complete player."
Junior guard Justin Rener averages 14.6 points and leads the Pioneers with 74 3-pointers. Senior Caleb Peters averages 10.3 points and a team-best 6.2 rebounds.
Simi Valley has been remarkable in its consistency. The losses have come to powers like Oxnard, Bishop Montgomery and Crespi. They've beaten teams they're supposed to beat.
"It's a credit to the mindset of our players," said Griffin. "They come ready to play every night."
Simi Valley will compete in the Division 2AA playoffs. Brackets will be released Sunday.
"It's a tough division," said Griffin. "Nothing will come easy, but our guys love to compete."
CALL THEM CHAMPIONS
Then there were four. Make that four league champions.
Oxnard, Agoura, Nordhoff and St. Bonaventure will all finish first in their respective leagues.
More:Monday's Top Prep Performers: Four basketball teams clinch league titles
We only await the outcome of the Coastal Canyon League, where Simi Valley will host Oak Park on Thursday night to finalize the standings.
Simi Valley (18-8, 6-1 in league) forges a first-place tie with a win. Oak Park (17-9, 7-0) wins the league outright with a victory.
Oxnard is the Channel League champion at 13-0 (25-2 overall). Agoura won the Marmonte League on Tuesday night with its 48-45 victory over Thousand Oaks, The Chargers are 7-1 in league (17-9 overall).
Nordhoff is the Citrus Coast League champion at 10-1 (19-6 overall). St. Bonaventure takes the Tri-Valley League title at 6-1 (18-8 overall).
THE STAR'S BOYS BASKETBALL RANKINGS
Oxnard (25-2, 13-0 Channel League)
Oak Park (17-9, 7-0 Coastal Canyon League)
Agoura (17-9, 7-1 Marmonte League)
Buena (24-3, 11-2 Channel League)
Simi Valley (18-8, 6-1 Coastal Canyon League)
Thousand Oaks (19-7, 6-2 Marmonte League)
Calabasas (17-10, 5-4 Marmonte League
Westlake (16-11, 4-5 Marmonte League)
Oaks Christian (19-8, 4-5 Marmonte League)
Nordhoff (19-6, 10-1 Citrus Coast League)
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Basketball notebook: Westlake shows grit in rallying from adversity
