Prep Basketball BOYS : Robertson a Giant Help in Westlake’s Victory Over Royal

At 6-4 and 230 pounds, James Robertson is Westlake High’s version of Charles Barkley. On Wednesday night, he helped the Warriors stop Royal dead in its tracks, 66-54, in a Marmonte League game at Westlake High.

Robertson, a reserve, went in the game when all-league forward Ken Burke left with a foot injury in the first period. The junior scored 14 points and had 11 rebounds.

“I was psyched up and ready to play tonight, and when Ken got hurt I knew I could make a difference,” Robertson said.

Forward Lou Salmina also scored 14 points and guards Rob Bowen and Greg Smith scored 11 each for the Warriors. Bowen, who leads Valley area players with 9.5 assists per game, added nine to give him 171 assists this season.

Brent Tapia led Royal with 14 points and Joe Pugh added 10. Reserves Keith Ellen and Cory Steele scored nine each for the Highlanders.

Westlake, which has played every Marmonte League team once, is 4-2 in the league and 10-8 overall. Royal dropped to 2-3 and 7-9.

Westlake is getting used to playing stretches without Burke, who averages 12 points and 7 rebounds a game. He missed much of Monday’s loss to league-leading Camarillo because of foul trouble.

“Robertson played his best game of the year tonight,” Westlake Coach Roy Gilmore said. “He matched up well against Royal’s big men (Joe Pugh and Mike Barry) and really came through without Burke in there.”

Channel Islands 48, Thousand Oaks 46

Channel Islands High outscored Thousand Oaks High, 17-11, in the third quarter to take the lead--then hit 6 of 8 from the foul line in the fourth quarter to seal the Marmonte League victory.

Channel Islands improves its league record to 3-2. It is 8-6 overall. Thousand Oaks drops to 1-4 in the league and 4-12 overall.

Dan Birg scored 23 points in a losing effort for the Lancers.

Christian Church School 41, West Valley Christian 36

Senior forward Paul Smith scored 12 points, and juniors Alex Porter and Pat Nash added 10 each and combined for 19 rebounds, to help Christian School Church extend its record in the Christian Schools Athletic Conference to 3-0.

The Lightening Bolts took a 16-10 lead at halftime before West Valley Christian implemented a tight zone defense in the third period and started to rally. But Lee Perry hit two consecutive 18-foot jumpers and defused the Seekers’ threat.

West Valley Christian was led by John Henderson, who had 16 points.

Oakwood 55, First Lutheran 41

Despite a 35-point performance by First Lutheran High’s Ralph Kim, Oakwood High easily rolled to its third Liberty League win.

Ralph Haltamy led the Gorillas with 22 points and 11 rebounds. The team improved its league record to 3-2.

First Lutheran falls to 1-5 in the league.