West San Jose Resident

Sports

Schneider, Scott lead Westmont Warriors to win over Del Mar

By Kevin Sparrer

It was the Max Schneider and Brian Scott show on Jan. 4 when Westmont's boys basketball team defeated Del Mar 78-60. The Warriors improved to 10-4 for the year with the victory.

Schneider dominated with 25 points, 15 from beyond the three-point line and six at the free-throw line. Scott added 24 with five threes as well and five free throws.

"Schneider is coming into his own this year," said Westmont head coach Bill Gerth. "We're changing it up this year to dribble penetration and shooting the three."

For Del Mar it was Dallin Blank who led the charge with 18 points, including four buckets from outside the three-point arc. The loss dropped Del Mar to 4-8 overall.

The Warriors took command early, and after Greg Talley won the tip-off, Westmont never looked back. Schneider started the scoring with a three, then Del Mar's Jordan Richardson dropped in a two and Schneider hit another three.

Westmont continued its attack, scoring 20 points in the first quarter and holding the Dons to only 11. Schneider led the Warriors with 11, nine of which came from three-point land.

Richardson and Jake Steeves both had four for Del Mar in the first quarter.

Both teams fought hard in the second quarter, scoring 12 points apiece. Del Mar made one of its strongest charges of the night, scoring eight unanswered points to tie the game 21-21, but Schneider quickly dropped in two to help Westmont regain the lead. Westmont went on to score nine more points and finish the first half ahead 32-23.

After halftime, Del Mar made another drive in the third quarter, going on a 12-point run with Tanner Condie hitting a three, Semir Rocevic sinking a two and Blank scoring seven points, including a three, but the Dons were not able to take over the lead.

Again Westmont came back to score nine more points before the end of the quarter and led 53-45.

"Our defense is struggling a bit, which could haunt us down the road, but for the last four games we've been playing really well," said Gerth.

Westmont ran away with it in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Dons 25-15 to take the win.

Westmont's Talley had 13 points, with one free throw; Patrick Barton added eight, with a pair at the line; James Weimer had five with a three; Shan Aggarwal had two free throws; and Jon Wahl had one.

"We're playing with two sophomores, two juniors and a senior as our starting five, so there is a strong upside, for not only this year, but the future as well," said Gerth.

For the Dons, Rocevic had 13 with five at the line, Richardson added 10 with a pair of free throws, Steeves had seven with three free throws, Taylor Nakatani added five with a three, Chris Atchison had four with two at the line and Sean Chandi had a three.

Westmont was to host Sobrato on Jan. 9 to open play in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League. "Every team in this league is good," said Gerth. "If we don't come ready to play every day, we could lose."

Westmont will travel to Santa Teresa to face the Saints at 7 p.m. on Jan. 11.

Westmont's girls, 9-2 this season, were to open their Mt. Hamilton Division season at Gunderson on Jan. 9 and will host Santa Teresa on Jan. 11 at 7 p.m.

Prospect's boys open play in the Santa Teresa Division of the BVAL after a tough preseason, finishing 4-7. The Panthers were to open with Silver Creek on Jan. 8 and will head to Overfelt on Jan. 11 with the tip at 7:30 p.m.

Prospect's girls, who completed a 7-4 preseason, were to open Mt. Hamilton Division play against Leland on Jan. 9 and will host Evergreen Valley with a 7 p.m. on Jan. 11.