Westfield Stays Alive

WESTFIELD IS STILL IN THE HUNT

This has been a difficult season for Westfield Girl’s Basketball, traditionally a powerhouse for many years and one of the few Houston area teams that have won a state championship, which they did in 2004. They have had some outstanding players including Mercedes Williams, Tyesha Jackson, Takia Starks and Nay Carter, so a lot is always expected from their squads. They have taken their lumps this season and came into this game tied with Spring for seventh place and since these two teams were playing, I thought this game might be pivotal down the stretch and it may just be as Wesfield hangs on to win 50-46.

The Mustangs jumped out early on the Lions and led 15-12 after one behind the scoring of Jasmine Nash who nailed two three pointers along with Kylah Jones and Cameron Watkins scoring 4 points each. Spring managed to stay close with a balanced scoring attack, all five starters scored in the first quarter. Westfield only scored five points in the second quarter and went into halftime trailing 25-20, however Marquisha Lewis went to work in the third quarter, scoring 8 points as the Mustangs battled back to tie the score at 33 all after three. Toni Atkinson kept the Lions in striking distance in the final quarter, however Nash hit her fourth three pointer, along with clutch free throws from Jones and Ashle’ Hutching, which sealed the victory for the Mustangs. Spring has lost five district games, four by the margins of 7, 1 ,6 and now 4, so they could have easily been 5-1, instead of 1-5. Khalisha Lee and Samantha Eden paced the Lions with 9 points each, while Nash led all scorers with 12, Lewis and Jones added 11 each. Westfield is young, only one junior and one senior on the team, so this win may be the confidence builder they needed and could jump start them in the second half of district play. Dekaney is still on top and undefeated in district, however with Klein Forest’s victory over Klein Oak, three teams are tied for second place, which means Westfield is still in striking distance, only two games behind for that final playoff spot.