Saratoga News

Sports

Weimer leads Westmont to key win over Prospect

By Brad Wall

After three consecutive losses and with their season on the brink of collapse after a 10-2 preseason, Westmont needed a big win against Prospect to get its season back on track.

Fortunately for the Warriors, one of the most dominant forces in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League wears their No. 32 jersey.

Looking more like a force of nature than a basketball player, Westmont forward Michael Weimer scored at will and controlled the paint as the Warriors withstood a late Panther charge to win 50-37.

"They gave us a scare there in the third period when they came after us, and it was kind of like, 'Oh my God, here we go again,' " said Westmont head coach Bill Gerth. "We just somehow held on and it could be the biggest win of the year for us."

Weimer, who has more than 1,000 points for his career and is zeroing in on Westmont's all-time scoring record, finished just two blocks short of a triple-double as he scored 26 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked eight shots.

"It's not a one man team if you want to be successful," said Gerth of having a player as skilled as Weimer. "But it sure is nice [to have him]."

The Warriors never trailed in the game as they jumped out to a 7-0 lead, eventually pushing their advantage to 14 points in the second quarter. Weimer himself almost outscored the Panthers in the first quarter as he scored eight points to the Panthers' nine.

While Weimer was the only Warrior in double figures, he wasn't a one-man show. Darrien Broadnax scored eight points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out four assists. Dominik Arbet added eight points.

The Panthers were led by Zach Stevenson and NatnaelTaye who had nine points each.