Oaks Christian boys basketball won’t share league title with Westlake
WESTLAKE VILLAGE — Andrew Logan and Hank Baskett IV led the way for the Oaks Christian boys basketball team as it clinched the Marmonte League title outright with a victory over Westlake, 49-40, on Tuesday.
The Lions, who would have had to share the title with Westlake if they lost, have won the league title three years in a row.
Logan, a 6-foot-8 junior forward, was the leading scorer for Oaks Christian with 17 points, followed by Baskett with 15 points.
“Feeling fantastic,” Logan said. “Third year in a row. Super excited. I’m super excited for my guys, and I’m really looking forward to CIF playoffs.”
The Lions (23-5 overall, 8-2 league) earned a guaranteed spot in the CIF Southern Section playoffs that begin next week. The playoff pairings will be released Saturday.
Westlake (18-10, 6-4) also earned a spot in the playoffs.
Oaks Christian sophomore guard Brady Sullivan and Westlake junior guard Zachary Kalinski each hit a quick 3-pointer to start the game.
From there, the teams went blow-for-blow until the first quarter ended with the teams tied 12-12.
In the second period, the Lions held things down on defense, allowing just five points in the period.
Logan scored the first basket of the period to make the score 14-12. From here, Oaks Christian stayed one step ahead of Westlake and entered halftime up 22-17.
“Andrew did what he’s supposed to do,” Lions head coach Mark Amaral said of Logan. “He’s the biggest guy out there. And he’s a good athlete, and he needs to be able to finish, and I thought he did a good job. He was a tough matchup for them.”
At the start of the third quarter, Logan and Baskett led the charge for the Lions. Logan dominated the paint while Baskett hit a 3-pointer that gave the Lions a 30-21 lead.
Oaks Christian extended its lead to 33-21, but the Warriors wouldn’t surrender without a fight.
Westlake senior forward Alex Ostergard made two 3-pointers and scored a point off a three throw, and Kalinski had a two-pointer to keep the Warriors close.
Near the end of the third quarter, the Lions missed a 3-pointer and the Warriors grabbed the rebound. They sprinted to the other end and Westlake senior guard Kai Graver was fouled. He made both free throws to cut the Lions’ lead to 36-32 heading into the fourth period.
“(Kalinski) is a really good driver, and I thought we did a good job of keeping him in front for the most part, and taking away his right hand,” Amaral said. “Zero (Ostergard) can really shoot it. And if you lose him, he’ll make you pay. And there were a couple of those possessions that he did that.”
The Warriors scored first in the fourth to make it 36-34.
Both teams went back and forth, and Basket added to his big night with a lay-up to extend the Lions’ lead to 44-38.
“He totally came to the challenge like he was ready to be fully dominant,” Logan said. “And I was extremely proud of how he played. I’m proud of his defense, his hustle. He was looking to the rim and he was getting what he wanted.”
As the clock wound down, the Warriors fouled the Lions, but their efforts were in vain as the Lions made their free throws.
Oaks Christian clinched the victory and finished the regular season with sole possession of first place.