Closing it out: Westlake girls basketball staves off rally, wins at Cedar Valley
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- Westlake sophomore Islay Sauvao goes up for a shot during the non-region game against Cedar Valley in Eagle Mountain on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
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- Westlake junior Keira Hester looks to pass during the non-region game against Cedar Valley in Eagle Mountain on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
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- Westlake sophomore Avery Thompson knocks the ball away during the non-region game against Cedar Valley in Eagle Mountain on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
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- Cedar Valley players celebrate making a 3-pointer during the non-region game against Westlake in Eagle Mountain on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
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- Cedar Valley sophomore Daisy Thayne drives to the basket during the non-region game against Westlake in Eagle Mountain on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
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- Westlake freshman Aaliyah Sikander drives to the basket during the non-region game against Cedar Valley in Eagle Mountain on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
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- Cedar Valley defenders block a shot during the non-region game against Westlake in Eagle Mountain on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
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- Cedar Valley sophomore Savannah Klodt goes up for a layup during the non-region game against Westlake in Eagle Mountain on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
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- Westlake junior Mia Foster shoots a 3-pointer during the non-region game against Cedar Valley in Eagle Mountain on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
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- Westlake sophomore Islay Sauvao drives to the basket during the non-region game against Cedar Valley in Eagle Mountain on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
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- Cedar Valley junior Ellie Larson shoots a shot during the non-region game against Westlake in Eagle Mountain on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
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- Westlake freshman Aaliyah Sikander looks to pass the ball during the non-region game against Cedar Valley in Eagle Mountain on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
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- Cedar Valley junior Lily Shippen drives to the basket during the non-region game against Westlake in Eagle Mountain on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
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- Westlake sophomore Janiece Sikander shoots a 3-pointer during the non-region game against Cedar Valley in Eagle Mountain on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
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- Cedar Valley junior Hadley Whiting watches her shot during the non-region game against Westlake in Eagle Mountain on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
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- Westlake sophomore Avery Thompson shoots a 3-pointer during the non-region game against Cedar Valley in Eagle Mountain on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
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- Cedar Valley head coach Kawika Akina talks to his team during the non-region game against Westlake in Eagle Mountain on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
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- Westlake head coach Charlotte Macfarlane watches her team during the non-region game against Cedar Valley in Eagle Mountain on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024.
After an excellent first half where it had led by as many as 19 points, the Westlake girls basketball team faced gut-check time midway through the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s non-region game at Cedar Valley.
Some mistakes and fired-up play by the Aviators had resulted in a big comeback by the home team, who had cut the deficit to just four points with four minutes left to play.
Would the talented-but-young Thunder squad fold under the pressure?
Or would Westlake find a way to respond?
Thunder head coach Charlotte Macfarlane said there was a moment that indicated to her which way things were going to go for her team.
“We got fouled and before we shot the free throws, all five of the kids came together in a huddle,” Macfarlane said. “I don’t know exactly what they said but they realized this was about them as a team, not individuals. I think that really settled them down.”
Westlake sophomore Janeice Sikander calmly drained both foul shots and the Thunder used that reset to get back to what they were doing well, pulling away to secured the 60-49 win.
“The best thing we did today was to stay together as a unit,” Macfarlane said.
Westlake sophomore Islay Sauvao made a couple of big layups down the stretch to close out the win. She said the key was not panicking when things got tough.
“We came together and talked about how we had to play composed,” Sauvao said. “We needed to finish strong by playing together. We also couldn’t rush it. The more we rushed it, the more turnovers we had.”
Composure on both ends was what got the Thunder the big lead in the first place.
“We all trusted each other from the start,” Sauvao said. “We all knew we could handle the ball. We knew if we worked together, we would win this ball game.”
Westlake did well at attacking the Cedar Valley pressure and finding good looks on offense, while also forcing the Aviators to work really hard to get good looks.
“We knew coming into the season that defense was going to win us games,” Macfarlane said. “We started off the game holding them scoreless for the first few minutes. That’s been our mantra and the kids have bought into it. We’re so tough defensively when we are locked in and focused.”
The Thunder scored the first 12 points of the game and limited the home team to three free throws and a single field goal (which came right at the buzzer) in the first quarter.
A trio of big 3-pointers in the second quarter pushed Westlake’s lead to 34-15 before Cedar Valley hit a trey to end the half.
But while the Aviators were in a hole, they weren’t done.
“They punched us in the face to start but we finally showed some fight in the second half, which was nice to see,” Aviator head coach Kawika Akina said. “The exciting part is that that is in them. Hopefully we can figure out how to have that for a full game.”
Cedar Valley stayed within striking distance for most of the third quarter, then finally got things to go their way for a stretch early in the fourth. A 10-2 Aviator run made the score 48-44 before Westlake was able to turn the tide.
“Once we start scoring, we can create a little more chaos and change the pace a little bit,” Akina said. “We may have run out of gas a little bit at the end but it’s still early and I’m happy with where we are headed. We just need to develop more consistency.”
The Thunder were paced by Sikander, who scored 15 points, while junior Keira Hester added 14 points. Cedar Valley sophomore Savannah Klodt scored 16 points to lead all scorers, while junior Hadley Whiting chipped in 10 points.
Both the Aviators and Westlake are young teams that rely heavily on underclassmen. Both will have some growing pains along the way but have good reasons to be very optimistic about what they can accomplish.
“The core of our group are juniors and sophomores,” Macfarlane said. “Our preseason is pretty tough and I planned it that way because the better basketball teams we play now, the better our growth will be for the future.”
Sauvao said the Thunder are embracing the process and she’s enjoying seeing them improve.
“Every game is a new challenge and a new journey,” Sauvao said. “Yes, we are young, but I love playing a young team because we have all these years to grow and progress. We’re just starting.”
Westlake (5-3) next hosts Mountain Ridge Thursday at 6 p.m., while Cedar Valley (5-3) takes on Cottonwood in Eagle Mountain the same day at 7 p.m.
