Westlake Girls Get Scare, but Still Win

The Westlake High girls eased off the accelerator Thursday in the fourth quarter of their Marmonte League basketball opener at Simi Valley. Consequently, Warrior Coach Nancy Bowman didn’t soft-pedal the issue in a stern postgame talk.

Although Westlake won, 60-46, the Warriors’ 17-point lead at the end of the third quarter dwindled to eight late in the game.

“If we get impatient and it’s garbage time, we’re a terrible-looking team,” Bowman said. “We unfortunately have a tendency to do that.”

Westlake displayed a more tenacious tendency after leading by only two points at halftime.

Dani O’Byrne scored nine of her game-high 19 points as the Warriors (12-1) outscored Simi Valley, 19-4, in the decisive third quarter. Tara Mays and Melissa Gische combined for eight points in the period.

Simi Valley (7-7) trimmed the deficit to 54-46, but could get no closer.

The Pioneers missed five of six free throws in the final period.

“That changed the whole complexion of the game,” Simi Valley Coach Dave Murphy said of the poor shooting. “If we’re hitting 60%, we’re in the ballgame.”

Bowman felt the heat down the stretch. “I expected it,” she said. “Simi is a very good ball team and they’re going to win their share.”

Lori Church led the Pioneers with 13 points, Josie Kosanke added 12 points and 16 rebounds and Tammy Pacheco scored 10.

Gische finished with 18 for Westlake and Tracy Thorp contributed 13. Westlake made 16 of 24 foul shots.