SOUTHERN SECTION : BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : 4-A DIVISION

Westlake 65, Hawthorne 54--Westlake center Dave Heckmann set the tone of the game early when he blocked the opening shot of Hawthorne’s 6-7 center Willie Jordan, and Westlake rode that emphatic start to victory.

The Warriors, who never trailed in the game, used a ball-control offense to penetrate the Hawthorne defense for high-percentage shots near the basket and took a 33-24 halftime lead.

Hawthorne, the second-place finisher in the Ocean League, narrowed Westlake’s lead to 45-40 with three minutes remaining in the third quarter but couldn’t draw any closer.

The Cougars again threatened, cutting Westlake’s lead to 54-48, but a slam dunk by Heckmann with 1:41 remaining killed the Hawthorne rally.

Paul Keenan led Westlake (18-7) with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Rich Welch scored 15 points, including 7 of 7 free throws and Heckmann added 14 points for Westlake, the second-place finisher in the Marmonte League. Mike Lewis and Jordan each scored 17 points for Hawthorne (17-9).

Westlake out-rebounded the taller Hawthorne team, 29-24, and the Warriors’ tight two-three zone defense forced Hawthorne to shoot from outside.

Westlake meets Muir in the second round next Tuesday.