Golden opportunity awaits Westlake on Friday
Opportunities like this don’t come around very often, not for the Westlake boys’ basketball team. Friday night’s Marmonte League game offers this group a chance to do something few teams have this season: Defeat Simi Valley, a program that’s lost one game thus far and is ranked No. 7 by The Times.
Confidence should not be a problem for the Warriors. They did, after all, only lost by two-points in the first meeting in early January. Playing on the road, in a hostile environment, certainly doesn’t help the cause for the first-place Pioneers, who could be ripe for an upset.
It’s not as if Westlake played a soft schedule either. It has quality victories over Chaminade and Oxnard to go along with a couple of hard-fought losses to Harvard-Westlake and Santa Clara. But ultimately, those experiences could end up being the difference between making a statement with a victory, or not.
--Sean Ceglinsky
Opportunities like this don’t come around very often, not for the Westlake boys’ basketball team. Friday night’s Marmonte League game offers this group a chance to do something few teams have this season: Defeat Simi Valley, a program that’s lost one game thus far and is ranked No. 7 by The Times.
Confidence should not be a problem for the Warriors. They did, after all, only lost by two-points in the first meeting in early January. Playing on the road, in a hostile environment, certainly doesn’t help the cause for the first-place Pioneers, who could be ripe for an upset.
It’s not as if Westlake played a soft schedule either. It has quality victories over Chaminade and Oxnard to go along with a couple of hard-fought losses to Harvard-Westlake and Santa Clara. But ultimately, those experiences could end up being the difference between making a statement with a victory, or not.
--Sean Ceglinsky
No. 8 Simi Valley (21-1, 10-0) at Westlake (14-8, 6-4), 7:30 p.m. -- My blogging colleague, Sean Ceglinsky, already gave you the scoop on this one. And, as long as my Ford Focus doesn't decide to make an unscheduled pit stop along the 101, I'll be a-bloggin' in Westlake tonight.-- Austin KnoblauchWestlake vs. Simi Valley game should be great, once it gets started
Thankfully, my Focus made it out here to Westlake tonight, but I'm not out of the woods just yet. My wireless card isn't very happy with the confines of the Warriors' gymnasium and my reception keeps going in and out. So, these updates could become sparse once the game actually starts (J.V. game didn't end until 7:39).
But enough about my equipment issues -- what about the game? Well, last time these teams played it was a scoring fest, with Simi Valley coming out ahead, 88-86.
Lorne Jackson and the rest of the Pioneers have got to be considered the favorites in this one, too, but I keep waiting for Simi Valley to have a bad game. I guess I''m having a little difficulty believing a team even as talented as the Pioneers can go undefeated in the Marmonte League.
As for Westlake, I know they'll keep up on the score sheet. The Warriors' eight losses have come by an average of less than eight points, and you just know how badly they want a victory over the Pioneers on their home court.
-- Austin Knoblauch
Meza scores 22 points by halftime 
So far, Simi Valley hasn't made its Marmonte League showdown with host Westlake very intriguing. Thanks to 22 points by senior forward Mike Meza and a 23-7 run in the second quarter, the Pioneers, ranked No. 8 by The Times, lead Westlake, 50-29, at halftime.
Westlake is getting worked down low by Meza, Spencer Feist and Lorne Jackson. By my count, the trio has combined for all but six of the Pioneers' first-half points -- that's just awesome.
The only thing keeping the Warriors kind of in the game is its perimeter shooting. Adam Kolodney has three three-pointers and T.J. Hennessy also has had some good shots from the outside, but nearly all of it came in the first quarter.
If the Warriors don't find a way to stop Meza in the second half, they're going to suffer their biggest defeat of the season.
-- Austin Knoblauch
Thankfully, my Focus made it out here to Westlake tonight, but I'm not out of the woods just yet. My wireless card isn't very happy with the confines of the Warriors' gymnasium and my reception keeps going in and out. So, these updates could become sparse once the game actually starts (J.V. game didn't end until 7:39).
But enough about my equipment issues -- what about the game? Well, last time these teams played it was a scoring fest, with Simi Valley coming out ahead, 88-86.
Lorne Jackson and the rest of the Pioneers have got to be considered the favorites in this one, too, but I keep waiting for Simi Valley to have a bad game. I guess I''m having a little difficulty believing a team even as talented as the Pioneers can go undefeated in the Marmonte League.
As for Westlake, I know they'll keep up on the score sheet. The Warriors' eight losses have come by an average of less than eight points, and you just know how badly they want a victory over the Pioneers on their home court.
-- Austin Knoblauch
Meza scores 22 points by halftime 
So far, Simi Valley hasn't made its Marmonte League showdown with host Westlake very intriguing. Thanks to 22 points by senior forward Mike Meza and a 23-7 run in the second quarter, the Pioneers, ranked No. 8 by The Times, lead Westlake, 50-29, at halftime.
Westlake is getting worked down low by Meza, Spencer Feist and Lorne Jackson. By my count, the trio has combined for all but six of the Pioneers' first-half points -- that's just awesome.
The only thing keeping the Warriors kind of in the game is its perimeter shooting. Adam Kolodney has three three-pointers and T.J. Hennessy also has had some good shots from the outside, but nearly all of it came in the first quarter.
If the Warriors don't find a way to stop Meza in the second half, they're going to suffer their biggest defeat of the season.
-- Austin Knoblauch
Varsity Times Insider -->
Simi Valley blows out Westlake, 93-58
At the end of the third quarter, there was a mini exodus of fans from the Westlake gymnasium and I contemplated leaving with them.
But my blogging responsibilities forced me to sit through all of Simi Valley's dominating 93-58 victory Friday night. Don't get me wrong, it was great seeing Mike Meza and Lorne Jackson do their thing, but I probably should have gone to the Harvard-Westlake at Loyola game instead.
Oh well, at least now I know who's definitely the best team in the Marmonte League.
I'll have more on this blowout soon.
-- Austin Knoblauch
Simi Valley 93, Westlake 58
Mike Meza's 26 points, Lorne Jackson's 22 and Brad Lewis' 20 powered Simi Valley (22-1, 11-0), ranked No. 8 by The Times. Matt Mazarei had 18 points and Adam Kolodney added 12 points for host Westlake (14-9, 6-5).
VC Preps
SIMI VALLEY 93, WESTLAKE 58
At Westlake
Highlights: Simi Valley — Michael Meza registered team-highs with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Lorne Jackson tallied 22 points, eight assists and six steals. Brad Lewis added 20 points. Westlake — Matt Mazarei scored a team-high 18 points and Adam Kolodney hit four 3-pointers for 12 points.
Records:
Simi Valley 22-1, 11-0 Marmonte League; Westlake 14-9, 6-5.
September 05, 2007
Jackson doesn't mind dealing with the out of town fans
There were a few out-of-town guests who came to see Simi Valley senior guard Lorne Jackson strut his stuff on Friday, and I know they didn't leave disappointed.
About a half dozen or so recruiters had the opportunity to see the Simi Valley standout score 22 points in the Pioneers' 93-58 victory over Westlake on Friday, and judging by their post-game conversations with Jackson, I'm sure they were pleased with what they saw.
I'll let Jackson tell you all about it in this interview:
As for Westlake, Coach Tom Donohue was understandably a little bummed things didn't go the Warriors' way. A couple of three-pointers by Adam Kolodney and an 18-point night by Matt Mazarei were the only Westlake highlights of this much-anticipated duel. Here's a quick audio interview with Donohue:
MARMONTE
With five regular-season games remaining, Simi Valley (20-1) is eight wins shy of the school single-season record of 28 (1999-2000).
DAILY NEWS TOP 10
BOYS
1. Taft (18-3)
2. Campbell Hall (19-5)
3. Simi Valley (21-1)
4. Renaissance Academy (21-2)
5. Crespi (17-7)
6. Harvard-Westlake (18-6)
7. Valencia (17-6)
8. Saugus (19-4)
9. Lancaster (17-6)
10. Thousand Oaks (15-6)
OTHERS: Cleveland 16-6; North Hollywood 18-6; Oak Park 15-6; Oaks Christian 19-4; Sylmar 13-8; Van Nuys 10-15.
Simi Valley blows out Westlake, 93-58
At the end of the third quarter, there was a mini exodus of fans from the Westlake gymnasium and I contemplated leaving with them.
But my blogging responsibilities forced me to sit through all of Simi Valley's dominating 93-58 victory Friday night. Don't get me wrong, it was great seeing Mike Meza and Lorne Jackson do their thing, but I probably should have gone to the Harvard-Westlake at Loyola game instead.
Oh well, at least now I know who's definitely the best team in the Marmonte League.I'll have more on this blowout soon.
-- Austin Knoblauch
Simi Valley 93, Westlake 58
Mike Meza's 26 points, Lorne Jackson's 22 and Brad Lewis' 20 powered Simi Valley (22-1, 11-0), ranked No. 8 by The Times. Matt Mazarei had 18 points and Adam Kolodney added 12 points for host Westlake (14-9, 6-5).
VC Preps
SIMI VALLEY 93, WESTLAKE 58
At Westlake
Highlights: Simi Valley — Michael Meza registered team-highs with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Lorne Jackson tallied 22 points, eight assists and six steals. Brad Lewis added 20 points. Westlake — Matt Mazarei scored a team-high 18 points and Adam Kolodney hit four 3-pointers for 12 points.
Records:
Simi Valley 22-1, 11-0 Marmonte League; Westlake 14-9, 6-5.
September 05, 2007
Jackson doesn't mind dealing with the out of town fans
There were a few out-of-town guests who came to see Simi Valley senior guard Lorne Jackson strut his stuff on Friday, and I know they didn't leave disappointed.
About a half dozen or so recruiters had the opportunity to see the Simi Valley standout score 22 points in the Pioneers' 93-58 victory over Westlake on Friday, and judging by their post-game conversations with Jackson, I'm sure they were pleased with what they saw.
I'll let Jackson tell you all about it in this interview:
As for Westlake, Coach Tom Donohue was understandably a little bummed things didn't go the Warriors' way. A couple of three-pointers by Adam Kolodney and an 18-point night by Matt Mazarei were the only Westlake highlights of this much-anticipated duel. Here's a quick audio interview with Donohue:
MARMONTE
With five regular-season games remaining, Simi Valley (20-1) is eight wins shy of the school single-season record of 28 (1999-2000).
DAILY NEWS TOP 10
BOYS
1. Taft (18-3)
2. Campbell Hall (19-5)
3. Simi Valley (21-1)
4. Renaissance Academy (21-2)
5. Crespi (17-7)
6. Harvard-Westlake (18-6)
7. Valencia (17-6)
8. Saugus (19-4)
9. Lancaster (17-6)
10. Thousand Oaks (15-6)
OTHERS: Cleveland 16-6; North Hollywood 18-6; Oak Park 15-6; Oaks Christian 19-4; Sylmar 13-8; Van Nuys 10-15.
