PREP ROUNDUP : Newport Christian Can’t Stay With St. Margaret’s

For a little more than a quarter, Newport Christian High School matched baskets with St. Margaret’s, the third-ranked team in the Southern Section Small Schools’ poll.

But reality hit with a thud.

After a slow start, St. Margaret’s defeated Newport Christian, 71-33, Tuesday in an Academy League game at the 15th Street Gym in Newport Beach. It was the 11th consecutive victory for St. Margaret’s (14-4, 7-0 in league).

Newport Christian (5-9, 2-5) kept pace until one minute into the second quarter. Led by center Ryan Westendorf, St. Margaret’s went on a 24-7 run to close the quarter.

Westendorf, a 6-foot-7 junior, scored 21 of his game-high 25 points in the first half. He made 10 of 14 shots in the first half.

Westendorf was 12 of 23 for the game and also had 21 rebounds.