February 6, 2007

Westmont girls gun for basketball playoffs

Warriors down second-place Santa Teresa 58-55, under pressure

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Westmont likely secured a Central Coast Section basketball playoff bid by beating second-place Santa Teresa at that school on Feb. 2—but don’t tell the Warriors.

Westmont junior Kelly Gregg looks for a split in the Piedmont defense. Coach Jane Morgan-Riley called Gregg the quarterback of the offense. Photos by Justin Petersen

Coach Jane Morgan-Riley said that her team will remain oblivious to the fact, in order to maintain focus throughout the remaining three games in A-league, Mount Hamilton Division action.

“I just keep telling the girls that if we don’t win those games, we may miss the playoffs,” said Riley. “I think it will make them work a little harder.”

The technique paid dividends versus the Saints Friday, when Westmont (11-9, 5-5) overcame a 36-30 halftime deficit to win 58-55. Trailing at the break, Westmont outscored Santa Teresa 11-4 during the third quarter, and matched the Saints blow for blow in an offensive fourth, finally finishing ahead 17-15.

Westmont needed the victory after stumbling Jan. 31, versus Piedmont Hills. The 43-38 defeat left the Warriors locked in a three-way tie for fourth place in the MHAL with Evergreen, Gunderson and Pioneer.

The top four teams in the division receive automatic playoff berths.

“We knew going in that it was going to be a tough game,” said Riley. “We ended up winning, but it was a very physical game.”

Riley called freshman Dilaura Onur the difference, versus Santa Teresa. Onur entered the game during the fourth quarter, called upon for her three-point marksmanship. While Onur did not end up sinking any shots beyond the arc, a 10-foot bank shot and clutch free throw, during a critical, fourth quarter, one-and-one opportunity sealed the victory for the Warriors.

Meanwhile, senior captain Megan Scheibli and junior point guard Kelly Gregg brought Onur and the Warriors within scoring distance. The two mates in Westmont’s tested backcourt tallied a combined 33 points, including three three-point plays courtesy of Scheibli, with her trademark swagger, amid vocal support.

“She is a leader,” said Riley. “If it wasn’t for her leadership on the court, I don’t know what. That makes a big difference.”

Stephanie Priest (23) stops a Piedmont player from progressing toward the hoop.

In contrast, Gregg pushes her teammates at the rate that she transports the ball up court. Her game consists of speed to the basket and pull-up jumpers. “She is like the quarterback of the offense,” said Riley. “She comes in focused every game. She is a competitor, she likes to win, she’ll drive and dish.”

Riley said that the two guards work well together. They have shared ball-handling duties throughout the past three years, since Scheibli was a sophomore and Gregg cracked the lineup as a freshman.

Riley also cited the play of juniors Robyn Araujo and Stephanie Priest, as reason for the Warriors ascent into playoff competition during the second half of the league campaign, after opening division play with two consecutive losses.

Standing just 5-feet, 7-inches, Araujo has emerged as Westmont’s top defender under the basket and out this season. “If we ever need to go man-to-man or box-and-one, Robyn is the one we put on the other team’s best player,” said Riley. “She runs the floor, she is very scrappy, she gets her hands on the ball, and she knocks the ball down. She’s tough, and she will also get in there and rebound.”

Priest is Westmont’s top scoring threat underneath the basket. “She is our enforcer inside,” said Riley.

Upon completing the league schedule in two weeks, Westmont will learn where it lands, in terms of CCS seeding. The section’s seeding meeting is scheduled to take place Feb. 18.