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Securing the ball from an incoming Manor player, Vivian Hapka ’26 aims to make eye contact with her teammates across the court. The Warriors’ coordination and teamwork developed throughout the game, leading them to eventual victory.
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Hands up, Haydn Espinoza ’26 extends to block the Mustangs from scoring. Enmeshing powerful offense with a solid defense, the Warriors were able to strategically ensure holistic success on the court.
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Ball in hand, Iman Xu ’28 moves swiftly towards her teammates in the Warrior half. Xu was instrumental in gaining consistent points for her team throughout the game.
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Staving off the Mustang player, Lola Montana ’26 dribbles the ball down the court. Ramping up their physicality, the Warriors worked aggressively to stop potential steals.
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Glancing down the court, Evelyn Bell ’28 prepares to receive the ball from Theresa Bell ’26. Both Bells played a pivotal role in driving the Warriors past Mustang defense to score.
The varsity women’s basketball team earned a 57-45 victory over the Manor Mustages on Friday, Dec. 9. The Warriors set the tone early with disciplined defense and strong rebounding; this defensive strategy allowed the Warriors to push the pace and control the tempo of the game.
“Being able to force them to take bad outside shots in the zone and then rebounding off of them helped us secure the win,” Vivian Hapka ‘26 Said.
The Warriors began to push hard on defense starting from the first whistle on. As the quarter progressed, the Warriors used that defensive pressure to create offensive opportunities in transition. Players such as Iman Xu ‘28 and Hadyn Espinoza ‘26 helped maintain energy on both ends of the floor, while the Warriors stayed composed despite Manor attempts to drive the basketball in. Westwood’s ability to stay connected defensively in the final quarter ending with the Warriors in the lead 15-13.
“We huddle after every time out and try to talk to each other on the court as much as possible to stay in touch with one another and make sure we are all on the same page.” Hapka said.
In the second quarter, communication continued to play a major role in Westwood’s success. The Warriors regrouped after stoppage and made adjustments that helped extend their lead. By remaining vocal on defense and organized on offense, Westwood capitalized on turnover and free throw opportunities, taking a 30-20 lead into halftime.
“Communication is really important so to help everyone in case someone doesn’t know where they’re supposed to be,” Bell said. “it helps everyone to be on the same page.”
As the game moved into the final stretch, Westwood remained focused on pushing the pace offensively while staying disciplined defensively. The Warriors emphasized running the floor to wear Manor down, forcing the Mustangs to play tighter defense. Westwood continued to finish strong at the basket instead of taking outside shots and remained in control of the ball. The Warriors played with teamwork and strong communication as they held their own to keep Manor under 4 points., The Warriors closed the quarter with a final score of 39-3.
“I think the best strategy that we had was to run off on offense and really get down the court,” Bell said. “Vivian did a really good job finishing her layups and that was really good for us.”
In the closing minutes, Westwood avoided complacency and remained aggressive on all ends of the court. The Warriors prioritized defense and remained calm on offense, making smart decisions. With the game winding down, the Warriors leadership and aggressive play sealed the outcome. Key contributions on offense and defense allowed the Warriors to close out the 57-45 victory with confidence as they look ahead at upcoming competition.
“Just trying not to get complacent because we were winning, also really focus on our defense, and calming down on offense and not trying to get ahead of ourselves and remain calm.” Bell said.
The lady Warriors will continue to push their winning streak in the next game taking on the Hutto Hippos on Dec 19.
