Westmont College Athletics

By Zach DeMarcus
February 15, 2018
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Kammerer Court in Westmont's Murchison Gymnasium is preparing to host an NAIA Top-10 showdown Saturday between the eighth-ranked Westmont Warriors (21-5, 10-1 GSAC) and the top-ranked The Master's Mustangs (25-1, 11-0 GSAC).
 
The Mustangs are led by Senior Lawrence Russell, Junior Hansel Attencia, and sophomores Timothy Soares and Brock Gardner. Lawrence is averaging 16 points per game to go along with 7.0 rebounds per game. Attencia is adding 14.8 points per game and is leading the team with 115 assists – ranking him 10^th in the country in total assists.
 
Soares is scoring 14.8 points per game, leading the team with his 8.8 rebounds per game, and has blocked 76 shots – ranking him third in the country.  Gardner is averaging 12 points per game and 7.7 boards a game.
 
Beyond their season record, The Mustangs' number one ranking is padded with top-ranking statistics; they are first in the nation in blocks per game (5.46), defensive rebounds per game (33.5), total blocks (142), and defensive field goal percentage (.381). They are outscoring their opponents by an average of 22.84 points per game – good for third best in the country. They are also third best in total points scored (2438), total offensive rebounds (1182), and total rebounds per game (45.46).
 
The Warriors are led by their two senior captains in Jerry Karczewski and Sean Harman, along with juniors Olisa Nwachie and Zac Jervis, and senior David Gunn. Karczewski is leading the team with 15.5 points per game and 85 assists. He also just became Westmont's all-time 3-point leader this past game versus Bethesda hitting his 279^th career 3-pointer.
 
Harman is adding 12.5 points per game and is leading the team with 29 steals. Jervis is scoring 10.6 points per game and is pulling down 5.5 rebounds per game. Gunn is averaging 9.6 points per game and 5 rebounds a game.
 
Nwachie, according to Westmont head coach John Moore, has been an anchor for this Warrior team and has dialed up his play in Golden State Athletic Conference play. In conference, he is averaging a second-best 19.6 points per game, and is pulling down 8.3 rebounds per game.
 
Westmont boasts the top GSAC defense – giving up just 72.6 points per game. The Master's is ranked second in that category – conceding 73.8 points per game in conference play. The Mustangs' 90.6 points per game ranks first in conference and the Warrior's 82.5 points per game ranks second.
 
Moore said, "Saturday's home game is an NAIA top-10 matchup.  The Master's is well coached, and extremely confident and on a long winning streak.  In fact, it was a good number of days before they had pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving dinner that they last lost." The Mustang's lone loss of the season came back on November 3 against Antelope Valley by a score of 84-87.
 
"I think these are the kinds of games our guys love to be in.  The last time we played the number one team in the nation was Hope International in 2015 at the national tournament with a chance to go to the NAIA Championship Game.  We have four guys, who are now seniors, who were on that team so they know the challenges that come with playing a team of The Master's' quality.
 
"We are preparing with two things in mind.  We want to have fresh legs and we want to be who we have been all season long. We want to move the ball well and we want to defend with communication and intensity.  And lastly, and this sounds a bit trite, we want to take each possession for what it is worth. 
 
"We do not want to have a bunch of highs and lows, nor do we want to treat the game with too much drama. We want to be steady and consistent as the game progresses. And, of course, we want our guys to have fun and to thoroughly enjoy the moment. I believe they will," finished Moore.
 
Saturday's contest carries GSAC championship implications. If Westmont wins, they will be tied for first place. If The Mustangs win, they will clinch at least a share of the regular season championship. Saturday also represents Senior Day for the Warriors. Westmont will honor Noah Blanton, Gunn, Harman, and Karczewski before the game. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.