Coach Speaks Softly, Westlake Carries Big Stick

THOUSAND OAKS — The Westlake High basketball team is lucky its coach is sick.

“I can’t really scream because I have a cold,” Coach Gary Grayson said.

Fortunately, the Warriors righted themselves without Grayson having to strain his vocal cords. After one half of sloppy play, Westlake pulled away for a 71-55 Marmonte League victory over Thousand Oaks on Wednesday night at Westlake High.

“We just picked up the intensity because we came out in the first half and played like . . .,” senior forward Billy Miller said. “We knew if we started playing our game, we would win it.”

The key for Westlake, which was tied at halftime, was rebounding in the second half. Thousand Oaks was able to get second-chance baskets throughout the first half, but in the second half Westlake outrebounded the Lancers, 29-5. Thousand Oaks had a 14-13 rebounding edge at halftime.

“They got aggressive on the boards and we didn’t respond,” Thousand Oaks Coach Ed Chevalier said. “It should have been us, but it was them.”

Westlake pulled away slowly in the third quarter, primarily because of the rebounding edge, taking a 46-39 lead after a 13-4 run.

Westlake’s Nick Alexander had 12 rebounds and Nassir Shakouri added eight.

“We just got our heads in the game and got going,” Alexander said. “We were frustrated in the first half.”

Junior guard Steve Aylsworth had 25 points and six assists for Westlake. Miller added 18 points.

Mike Lauer and Jeremiah Nesbitt each had 17 points for Thousand Oaks (8-9, 2-3 in league play).

Westlake (12-1, 5-0) remained tied atop the Marmonte League with Agoura, which plays at Westlake Friday.

The teams were tied at halftime after trading streaks throughout the half.

Thousand Oaks opened with a 15-7 lead, but Westlake went on a 14-0 run to take a 21-15 lead. Thousand Oaks came back to take a 28-23 lead, but Westlake regained the lead, 31-30, before Thousand Oaks tied the game, 31-31, at halftime.