Join us on Friday (Feb 3) @ McNeil as we continue our quest for a playoff berth

The Westwood Warrior Boys Basketball team had a very down and up week. On Tuesday, the Warriors faced the Stony Point Tigers in what was felt to be another must win game in order to advance to the playoffs for the first time in 6 years. The Warriors came out determined in the opening period and started out with a brief lead, but the Tigers found enough range to take a 12-11 lead after the first period. Then Jake Pearcy and Derek Nalodka starting getting to the rim for some tough scores and the Warriors were able to knot the low scoring game at halftime, 25-25. The Warriors slowed the tempo still further in the 3rd quarter and the game was knotted at 36-36 heading into the final period. In the 4th period, the Warriors went to a zone defense, but it was Stony Point that began to find the range from the outside and hit several three point goals, while the Warriors failed to answer. With Tiger shooters finding the open looks and the Warriors having to hurry and play catch up, the Warriors were outscored 23-9 in the final period in route to a disappointing 59-45 loss. Jake Pearcy and Derek Nalodka led the Warriors with 11 points each as the Warriors fell to 2-5 in district play.

On Friday night, the Warriors faced the league-leading Pflugerville Panthers and took a nothing-to-lose attitude into the game and the relaxed Warriors were a different team. J.T. Dettman opened the Warrior scoring with a 3 pointer and Jake Pearcy followed with trey from the corner and the Warriors were off to a good start. Pearcy and Derek Nalodka got to the basket for some hard earned baskets and it looked as if we were in for another low scoring contest with the Panthers leading 27-26 at the half. In the second half the Warriors pounded the defensive boards with Michael Harris and J.T. Dettman holding the Panthers to very few second chance opportunities, while Matt Holeman hit two big 3 pointers and Michael Harris went to work in the paint to allow the Warriors to take a 47-45 lead at the end of three quarters of play. In the 4th period, the Panthers ran off 5 quick points to take a 50-49 lead, but Derek Nalodka, playing perhaps his best floor game of the year, found J.T. Dettman in the deep corner for a 3 point basket that gave Westwood a 52-50 lead that they would never relinquish. Down the stretch, the Warriors road some timely steals by Matt Holeman and Jake Pearcy and second chance points from Michael Harris to seal the Warrior victory. Derek Nalodka was 11 for 12 from the free throw line in route to a team leading 17 points and 8 assists. He was followed by Michael Harris with 15 points and a season high 14 rebounds. J.T. Dettman and Jake Pearcy chipped in 11 points each as the Warriors posted a convincing 71-61 victory and knocked the Panthers out of first place. The big win moved the Warriors' season record to 15-12, 3-5 in District 16-5A play.

The Warriors are off until next Friday, when they travel to McNeil to play the number 1 ranked area team.

On January 17, the Austin American Statesman published statistics for Central Texas High School Basketball for the season to date

Congratulations to the following Westwood Varsity Players

Category	Rank	Player	Average
Scoring	17	Jake Pearcy	14.2 ppg
Scoring	19	Derek Nalodka	12.6 ppg
Scoring	24	Michael Harris	11.3 ppg
Rebounds	16	J.T. Dettman	5.8 rpg
Rebounds	18	Michael Harris	5.7 rpg
Assists	7	Derek Nalodka	4.3
Steals	1	Jake Pearcy	3.1
Steals	14	Derek Nalodka	2.3
Steals	20	Matt Holeman	2.0
Free Throw %	7	Jake Pearcy	79.5%
Free Throw %	8	Derek Nalodka	79.3%
Free Throw %	14	Matt Holeman	77.8%
3 Pt %	17	J.T. Dettman	34.1%
3 Pt %	19	Jake Pearcy	32.4%
3 Pt %	21	Dalan Ancrum	31.8%
Field Goal %	2	Matt Holeman	60.8%
Field Goal %	7	Michael Harris	51.8%