Westlake Throws Gantlet, 64-50

Greg Hess decided not quite a year ago that his Westlake High team should be the Marmonte League favorite in 1989.

Hess, then in his first year with the Warriors, put that to his returning players in the visitors’ locker room at Santa Barbara High, moments after Westlake had been eliminated in the first round of the the Southern Section 4-A Division playoffs.

His refrain was similar Wednesday night as Westlake faced Newbury Park in a league opener.

“Look around here,” Hess said as he gestured toward the ceiling of the Westlake gym. “There’s no Marmonte League championship banner in here. And that’s our goal.

“It’s something that’s been in our minds for a long time. We had set that as our goal as of that night.”

It will still take some doing, but Westlake established itself as the early favorite with a 64-50 win over the Panthers.

Newbury Park, along with Westlake, often was mentioned as a front-runner during the preseason.

Ken Barone, Newbury Park’s Coach, bestowed the honor of favorites upon the Warriors, but with an asterisk.

“I think the team that’s going to win the league will have at least two losses,” he said. “Of course, we certainly didn’t want one this early.

“Hey, the season’s not over by any means. I think they are certainly capable of winning the league. We’re just disappointed we didn’t play better.”

Westlake (8-5) set the tone for the league race behind the play of 6-foot, 9-inch forward Kurt Schwan, forward Peter Mladina and guards Chris Coffey and Jeff Maurer.

Schwan missed his first 6 field-goal attempts and did not make his first until 1:45 into the second half. Still, the senior managed to finish with 20 points.

Schwan pulled down 15 rebounds--3 less than Newbury Park (9-3) had as a team.

While Schwan was misfiring in the first half, Mladina scored 12 points en route to 18. Coffey and Maurer each added 6 points, handled Newbury Park’s press and set the tempo of the game.

Westlake’s job was made easier when Wayne Cook, who leads the Panthers with 24.2 points per game, was assessed his third foul 5:35 into the game and did not return until the second half.

Cook scored 7 points before he was forced to sit and missed 11 of his final 12 shots when he returned in the second half.

Cook has averaged more than 26 points in the Panthers’ wins; in their losses he has averaged less than 12. He had 11 against Westlake.

“We’re a different ballclub without Cook on the floor,” Barone said.

And when he was in the game, Westlake forward Mike Waggoner kept him in check.

Amir El Farra and Tim Lane each scored 10 points for Newbury Park.