The Warriors played host to Independence, needing a win to stay alive in the title race, but they dropped a 53-42 nod to the 76ers to slip deeper into third place in the division.

Westmont entered the game in third place, but a win over Independence would have pushed the Warriors to within a game of second place and three games out of first with three to play. Instead, they came out of the game mathematically eliminated from the title picture.

With the win, and a 51-45 win over Prospect, Independence pushed its record to 8-1 in the division, good for second place behind Pioneer. The Mustangs top the pack with a 9-0 mark heading into the final week of the league season.

The league championship will be decided this week, and while the Warriors won't get a piece of it, they could have a say in who does win it.

Pioneer and Independence were to collide in a key game on Feb. 11—the same night that Westmont was to visit Prospect at 7:30 p.m. Westmont will then host Pioneer on Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m., before closing out the regular season at Del Mar on Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m.

In other local games this week, Del Mar is at Leland on Feb. 11, Independence is at Del Mar on Feb. 13 and Prospect is at Pioneer on Feb. 14.

Only Michael Bottenberg could score in double figures for Westmont last week in the tough loss to the Sixers. Bottenberg had a three among his five field goals and he hit four free throws to finish with 15 points.

Danny Sisemore and Allen Iida finished with nine points apiece, and each hit a three. Mike Gorski also popped a three. Joel Lopez and Kyle Duren had two points each, and Michael Johnson and John Baumgardner added one apiece.

Westmont fell behind 22-4 in the first quarter and ended up playing catch-up the rest of the night.

Despite the loss, the Warriors boast a solid 18-7 season record and will have no trouble advancing to the Central Coast Section playoffs.

Like Westmont, Prospect lost to Independence last week, though it was the Panthers taking the early lead in this one.

Prospect led 16-14 after a period and 25-23 at intermission. But the 76ers topped the Panthers 13-8 in the third and 15-12 in the fourth to win by six.

Kyle Bonvechio had the hot hand for the Panthers with 16 points, including four buckets from three-point range.

Steven Vidal chipped in with 13 points, including a three. Brooks Elliott added nine points, including a three, and Fermen Smith canned seven.


Girls soccer

Freshman Brianna Driggs knocked in a second-half goal, but the Westmont girls soccer team dropped a 3-1 decision to Piedmont Hills last week in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the BVAL.

Westmont slipped to 0-10 in the division with the loss. The Warriors are 3-14-1 for the year.

Westmont will close out the season this week when the Warriors head to Prospect on Feb. 12 at 3:15 p.m.

Prospect enters the game with a 3-7-1 league record and 6-11-2 overall mark following a loss and a tie last week. The Panthers battled Independence to a scoreless tie before losing a tough 1-0 decision to Piedmont Hills.


Boys soccer

Westmont won twice last week to push its record to 8-1 in the West Valley Division of the BVAL. The Warriors, 11-3-2 for the year, blanked Piedmont Hills 2-0 and shut out Gunderson 3-0.

Prospect could manage just a goal on a penalty kick in a 4-1 Santa Teresa Division loss to Oak Grove. The Panthers dropped to 0-9-1 in the division and to 1-15-1 for the year.