By Christy Cain
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Success is never an accident. It is a byproduct of consistency, hard work, determination and teamwork. Tonight, the Westmont men's basketball team defeated The Masters in a 87-71 showdown in Murchison Gymnasium. While this game was many things, it surely was not an accident.
This game was electrifying.
Both teams started off a bit slow in the first half, but once Westmont took a minute to re-group, they hit the ground running and never looked back. "Our guys didn't get out of the gate very well and it wasn't until the eight minute mark that we recognized that we had to play much better than we were. Thankfully we turned the corner about the midpoint in the first half," opened head coach John Moore.
There were three players in double figures by the end of the first 20 minutes. Cory Blau and Daniel Carlin combined for 26 of the total 44 points going into halftime. Blau was perfect (4-4) from the free throw line, while Carlin was perfect (5-5) from the paint. Jerry Karczewski wrapped up the first half being 3-5 from outside the arc and 1-2 from the free throw line, putting a total of 10 points on the board. With 10 assists, the Warriors were moving the ball well and getting it to their open players in a complete team effort.
This game was consistent.
On nights like tonight, numbers can speak for themselves. The Warriors used the energy of the first half to help build even more of a lead in the second. In the final 20 minutes of play, they shot an impressive 13-23 from the field (56.6 percent), 6-11 from three point range (54.5 percent) and sunk 11 of their 17 free throws.
Daniel Carlin finished with yet another double-double, with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Cory Blau earned a career high of 28 points in his 32 minutes of time on the court.
"I think Daniel Carlin and Cory Blau did a nice job of leading us. Daniel was perfect from the field in the first half and really established a low-post presence for us. That allowed Cory to be as open as he was. He always finds the open looks. To have 14 points in the first half and 14 points in the second half is so impressive. Cory really is the model of consistency and we have grown to depend on him," raved Moore. "Sean Harman was another consistent one for us. He turned it over a little more than he usually does, but he continues to be a helpful, double-digit player for us."
This game was a total and complete team effort.
Offensively, Westmont was moving the ball and getting it in the hands of their open shooters. They finished with 19 assists which contributed to ending with four players in double-digit points.
Defensively, the Westmont squad was tenacious. With three of The Masters' starters on the bench, including lead scorer and rebounder Russell Byrd, the Warriors were able to single out other Mustangs to shut down.
"As I told our guys right before the game started, when you have one of the best players in the league (Byrd) not playing tonight, you know that other people are going to rise to the occasion. They definitely did, but our men never really let down," explained Moore.
"It doesn't show much in the stats but I thought that both of our other starting guards Nate (Marsing) and Britton (Williams) played a really nice game. Britton had six assists, only one turnover. Nate played ferocious defense, rebounded for us and got two assists. He was focused, fired up and ready to play," Moore closed out.
The reality of sports is that no one can do everything, but everyone can do something. Tonight's success on the basketball court was many things, but it certainly was not an accident. It was a byproduct of each man on the court doing what they could, not for himself, but for his teammates.
The Warriors progress to 5-4, 2-1 GSAC and will hit the road this weekend for a game against Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday December 13 at 7:30 pm.
