Westlake Wins Big Over Royal

Before Friday night’s game against Westlake High, Royal received a pep talk. The speech stressed great upsets. It dealt with the movie “Hoosiers.” David and Goliath were mentioned.

But the Highlanders who took the court were still coached by Gene Hatton, not Gene Hackman. Any hope for a Royal victory was put to rest early. Two minutes into the game, it was clear that Royal’s first game of 1987 would end the same as its last eight of 1986--with a loss.

Dave Heckmann scored 22 points and three other Westlake players scored in double figures as the Warriors opened Marmonte League play with a 79-57 win at Royal.

Westlake scored the game’s first 10 points and led by 13 at the end of the first quarter. The Warriors opened a 20-point advantage in the second quarter but after Westlake Coach Roy Gilmore removed his starters, Royal closed out the first half with a 14-3 run and trailed by only nine at the intermission.

But behind 10 third-quarter points from Heckmann, a 6-8 center, Westlake put the game out of reach early in the second half.

“We needed to play a real good game after having the time off and losing to Alemany at the Hart tournament,” Heckmann said. “Against a team like this, we had to dominate like we did.”

The win, Westlake’s seventh in eight games, sets up the Warriors’ showdown with Simi Valley on Friday. Westlake is 10-3, 1-0 in league play.

“Our guys have been waiting a year for this,” Gilmore said. “I think we match up well and whoever plays good on that particular night should win.

“I just hope that we don’t put all our eggs in one basket--win or lose.”

Against Royal, Westlake received strong output from each of its offensive weapons. The Warriors, who have scored at least 75 points in nine of their games, shot 75% in the first quarter and 61% for the game.

Heckmann, who made 11 of 13 shots, was supported by Rick Welch, Paul Keenan and Charlie Cangelosi. Welch had 12 points and Keenan and Cangelosi each added 10. Twelve different players scored for Westlake.

“It’s not just their size. They’ve got some of the purest shooters around,” Royal Coach Hatton said. “Simi and Westlake will be an interesting match-up. Westlake is not afraid to put the ball up and that’s good because you can’t be timid against Simi.”

Despite the loss, Hatton was pleased with the Highlanders (0-9, 0-1 in league), who began the game without three starters.

Aaron Pugh, a 6-7 center, did not start because of disciplinary reasons and Roger Greene did not start because of an injured ankle. Chris Noyes, Royal’s leading scorer, is out because of mononucleosis.

Pugh was replaced at center by Jim Blodgett, who is 6-0. At 6-3, Scooter Williams was Royal’s tallest starter.

Westlake, which started three players over 6-3, used its height advantage and out-rebounded the Highlanders, 49-31.

Bill Fassl, a 6-5 reserve forward led Westlake with 13 rebounds, while Heckmann had 12.

“I had a heart-to-heart talk with Heckmann after the loss to Alemany in which he only had one rebound,” Gilmore said. “He’s played exceptionally well since then. He’s playing the way he’s capable of.”

Darios DeMaio of Royal scored 12 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Highlanders. Blodgett led Royal in rebounds with seven.