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Some observers of Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference boys basketball are surprised that Westhill has thrust itself into the chase for the league championship. Coach Howard White is not among them.
The past two years have served as a construction zone for White and his young team. While the squad struggled, going 2-18 and 7-13, the players were getting extensive experience. White, and the Vikings, are reaping the rewards this year.
"I've been playing these kids since they were freshman and sophomores,'' White said. "To be honest, I could see this coming. The main thing I saw is they were very athletic. They just had to learn how to utilize it in a game-in and game-out basis. I felt that in a two-year window they'd be ready to go."
Entering Wednesday's game against Brien McMahon, Westhill is 7-0 in the league and 7-2 overall. Its losses came in the Kuczo Tournament over the holidays, when the Vikings lost to Stamford and Wilbur Cross. Since then, they have reeled off three straight wins. Those victories include a convincing 20-point win at Staples and a 66-64 win at Ridgefield.
"If I had to pick a game that was key for us so far, it'd be the Ridgefield game,'' White said. "The atmosphere was unbelievable. To go in and play and win in front of that crowd, I felt that was one of the games they had to go in and experience."
What makes Westhill a quality team is that it can beat opponents in a variety of ways. Chris Walters (17.4 points per game) and Antwaun Boyd (17.7 ppg) are outside threats. Ervin Thompson (11.7 ppg) can score inside. Point guard Tony Dobbinson runs the show, and White believes Tim Simmons, who has played just three games after having his eligibility cleared by the CIAC, will be a pivotal player.
The Vikings are also a tough defensive team. White believes the consecutive losses provided a wakeup call for his team to play with intensity every game. "We didn't do that on the Christmas break. We kind of got away from our concept of the game. We built from that and that was a good learning experience for us,'' White said.
There are still a lot of games left, including contests against city rivals Stamford and Trinity Catholic. Bridgeport Central, St. Joseph and Bassick, the only other undefeated team in league play, also await.
Westhill's run is clearly fun for White. A former player at Sacred Heart University, White is savoring the ride after the struggles of the past few years. "It takes time when you're trying to build a program,'' White said. "We've had our trials and tribulations. Now they're taking advantage of it academically and athletically. It's a fun moment for me after some of the things we've been going through. I have patience. Coaching takes time."
What are your impressions of the Westhill boys basketball team. Do you think they can win the FCIAC championship?
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