December 5, 2006

Warriors host, win 40th annual Westmont Invitational Tournament

Westmont boys’ hoops kicks off 2006-07 season with 3-0 start

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

The Westmont boys’ basketball team kicked off the 2006-07 season by winning its own tournament, the 40th Annual Westmont Invitational Tournament, held Nov. 28 through Dec. 1.

Wesmont senior guard Darrien Broadnax shoots the ball during a 56-40 win over Prospect on Nov. 30. Photos by Dan Miranda

The Warriors, 3-0 to start the season, capped the solid start by taking a 65-36 win over Fremont in the championship game on Dec. 1. The Westmont Invitational win was the Warriors’ first since the 1995 season, and only the fourth in the tournament’s history overall.

Following a 56-40 win over Prospect on Nov. 30 that propelled the Warriors into the championship, Westmont head coach Bill Gerth said he was pleased with his team’s early start in the 2006-07 season.

“We never really get that much respect, and we’re trying to earn it right now,” Gerth said of the early start. “But we always win 19 games (throughout the season), and we’re in the A division. …I think we’ve got a little winning tradition going on here and I think these guys just expect to win.”

Gerth said his team is coming into this season with some questions in terms of what type of team the Warriors will be. This year, the Warriors return with a relatively young roster, consisting of five seniors and seven underclassmen. Still, Gerth is returning two key players this season in forward Michael Weimer, Junior of the Year last season in the Mt. Hamilton Division, as well as guard Darrien Broadnax, a Second Team All-League selection in 2005-06.

“We didn’t really know what to expect with this team,” Gerth said. “I think we’ve got some good talent, but it’s just unproven. We didn’t really know where we were going to go (prior to the start of the season). …But it’s kind of exciting. Do we have expectations? Well, we’re trying to develop some right now.”

Westmont's Max Schneider drives to the basket for a layup during play at the 40th Annual Westmont Invitational Tournament.

Gerth said Weimer’s value cannot be underestimated, given the senior’s prominent presence in the low post this season. In addition, Gerth said Weimer’s value lies in his offensive abilities, as both a low post scoring threat and a consistent long-range shooter as well. Weimer showed those skills in the season-opening tournament, posting a 29-point, five-rebound performance, including four three-pointers, in the 56-40 win over Prospect, and followed it up with a 31-point, 15-rebound game in the championship round against Fremont.

“He does have the one dimension that we really don’t have,” Gerth said, referring to Weimer’s height, at six feet, five inches. “…He gets a lot of blocks, and sometimes he doesn’t even leave the floor. He doesn’t jump, he just has his hands up. He plays bigger than he really is, and he’s 6-5, 220 (pounds). That’s, like I said, the one thing we don’t have (on the rest of the roster).”

As for Broadnax, Gerth called the returning senior a leader on the team, and said he will be counted on to provide points as well for the Warriors this season. Broadnax showed his scoring abilities in the team’s opening game of the tournament, leading the Warriors with 23 points and four assists in a 66-30 win over Leland on Nov. 28.

“He’s a natural leader, and he plays instinctively rather than think ahead to the next play,” Gerth said of Broadnax. “Everything’s instinctive, and he’s very good at that. When he’s able to play that way, or the game is letting him play that way, he’s pretty darn good.”

Aside from Broadnax and Weimer, Gerth said he will look to junior guard Max Schneider as another scoring option this season. Schneider is the lone underclassman to start for the Warriors this year.