St. Margaret’s Westendorf Shakes, Rattles and Dunks

At the small schools level of high school basketball, where dunks are rarer than college basketball scholarships, Ryan Westendorf, The Times’ Athlete of the Week, is special.

In three years playing for St. Margaret’s High School, Westendorf said he has seen only one other player make a dunk. This season, Westendorf, a 6-foot-7 junior, is shaking rims, rattling opponents and exciting audiences, averaging 27 points and 18 rebounds for St. Margaret’s, the second-ranked small schools team in the Southern Section.

“He has literally dominated every game that we have played,” St. Margaret’s Coach Rick Bauer said.

Last week, Westendorf led St. Margaret’s to two Academy League routs. Tuesday, he had 32 points, 20 rebounds and 10 blocked shots in a 91-52 victory over Cal Lutheran. And Friday, he had 23 points and 24 rebounds in a 71-31 victory over Newport Christian.

Bauer, in his first season as St. Margaret’s coach, said Westendorf is Orange County’s leading rebounder because he is “relentless” under the basket.

“He just keeps going and going,” Bauer said.

Another reason for Westendorf’s domination is the level of competition he faces playing for St. Margaret’s, which has an enrollment of about 200 in grades one through 12.

Westendorf said St. Margaret’s has better athletes than most of the teams it plays. Four St. Margaret’s starters, including Westendorf, also were starters on St. Margaret’s eight-man football team, which won the Southern Section championship last fall.

“Usually the teams we play have one or two good players,” he said.

But Bauer, who was an assistant coach for five years at San Clemente High School, said Westendorf also does well against better competition. Bauer said Westendorf held his own in leagues last summer and has received attention from Division I colleges.

Westendorf’s job in the press is to react and intercept passes, a role similar to the defensive role he played this fall for the eight-man football team. He was a free safety and wide receiver, as well as punter and kicker.

TOP PERFORMERS

Despite fouling out with five minutes remaining, Tes Whitlock of Loara scored 54 points in the Saxons’ 93-91 loss to Los Alamitos Friday. Whitlock had 30 of Loara’s 44 points at the half. He also had 29 points in Loara’s 91-56 victory over Katella Wednesday.

Juan Strutton, a Laguna Hills soccer player, scored three goals in the Hawks’ 7-0 victory over Costa Mesa Friday. Strutton scored five goals in two games last week.

Ryan Westendorf

St. Margaret’s High School

* Position: Center

* Height, Weight, Class: 6-7, 185, Junior

* Last Week: Westendorf had 55 points and 44 rebounds in two victories.

* Season: Westendorf is averaging 27 points and 18 rebounds.