STUDIO CITY —The ball nearly ended up in Chaminade’s hands. But Bella Spencer extended an arm to gain control for enough time to dish an assist to Madison Gillet, who unflinchingly shot for a buzzer-beating corner 3-pointer.
The shot gave Harvard-Westlake a slim advantage at halftime as well as the lift the Wolverines needed to finish the evening with a 59-38 win over the Eagles.
“That was the momentum we needed going into halftime,” Thompson said. “That three took us into the half and we were able to come back out in the third quarter and play a solid first five minutes and it got us going.”
Harvard-Westlake (18-3 overall, 4-0 Mission League) and Sierra Canyon are now the only two unbeaten girls basketball teams in the Mission League. They’ll face off twice in a matter of four days with one game on Saturday and another on Wednesday.
“We have to be mentally prepared,” Thompson said. “We can’t fear competition and so we just have to go in knowing its a winnable game. We have to go in with energy, intensity and put together a full game of basketball.”
Spencer took over in the second quarter, scoring nine points in that frame. She grabbed a loose ball and drove in for a layup then followed up with a 3-pointer to pull the Wolverines, who won a CIF State title last season, ahead 18-15.
Spencer and Deanna Thompson combined for 39 points — the former scored 17 and the latter added 22.
“They bought into playing together,” Wolverines head coach Alex Nailes said. “Making that extra play for each other and knowing when they had times to attack and be aggressive for themselves. When they feed off each other, everybody else is able to feed off of them.”
Chaminade (7-10, 1-3) had one last gasp for breath when Angelina Habis (12 points) worked her way through the paint for a layup before Gillet’s dagger.
The Eagles pressed to prevent Harvard-Westlake from getting fully settled in the first quarter and kept the game close despite having a bench of only two healthy players.
“I credit Chaminade. They came out with the right intensity, right energy,” Nailes said. “We were a little tentative in attacking the paint, driving, making that one more pass. We had a slow start overall.”
Three-point shooting continued to be the asset that would help Harvard-Westlake further separate itself in the second half. Deanna Thompson nailed a shot from range with 6:30 to go in the third quarter and Gillett made a three 30 seconds after that.
Valentina Guerrero hit a long jump shot with 4:25 to go in the quarter for a 38-29 lead that the Eagles couldn’t overcome. It was the senior’s first game back since the first game of the season after suffering a fractured ankle.
“Having her back on the court was just incredible,” Thompson said. “I was so happy when she got her layup, but she was working hard on defense as well and crashing the boards. She’s gonna be a really great piece for us to have.”
Harvard-Westlake is succeeding despite a late start. Preseason practices didn’t begin until Sept. 1 after previous coach Melissa Hearlihy announced her retirement. Nailes, who is also an assistant coach on the boys team, was hired on Aug. 22.
It was a rushed process from an administrative standpoint but players bought in and adjusted quickly to the new coaching staff and their methods.
“We’re really trying to teach them, but also at an accelerated rate,” Nailes said. “Credit to the girls. They bought in and locked in to not just get it done but also understand and grow and learn. I don’t even think our team has touched its full potential.”
The Wolverines host Sierra Canyon on Saturday at 6 p.m. before heading to the Trailblazers’ gym on Wednesday for another 6 p.m. matchup.