Westwind Prep Academy's National Team, while in their first year of operation as a team, has been blowing past much of their competition this season. After a two-week layoff over the holidays, the team returned to action on Sunday evening at the ARCH Recreation Center in North Phoenix in front of a nice-sized home crowd for themselves.
Fresh off of the recent commitment by Westwind's 6-foot-3 junior guard prospect Tate De Laveaga to Northern Arizona University on Saturday evening, and with Northern Arizona assistant coach Matt Dunn and Memphis University assistant coach Damon Stoudamire (former NBA player & U of A alum) attending the game, Westwind would take on Australia's Newington College.
Westwind, behind strong team play and intense defensive pressure, would jump out to an early 23-8 lead in the game's first half. With 3 minutes left to play in the first half Westwind would build their lead to a 36 to 22 advantage.
Just before halftime, 6-foot-8 junior forward Zylan Cheatham would make a nice slashing drive to the basket around a defender for a basket. On the next trip, Cheatham would set up his teammate, 6-foot-9 junior post Connor MacDougall (Arizona State commit), for a basket and a potential three-point play.
Westwind would take a 42-31 halftime lead.
MacDougall, who has improved a great deal this season as a player under the coaching of Westwind's Jeff De Laveaga and his staff, would convert back-to-back baskets inside to start the second half. MacDougall would then score consecutive baskets inside again later in the third period to put Westwind ahead 60-44 with 1:48 left to play in the third quarter.
After building a nice 20-point advantage to end the third period, 68-48, Westwind would then cruise to a big 93-61 victory - outscoring the Australian group 25 to 13 in the final period.
The two teams will face one another again on Monday evening at 7PM, but this time in Anthem, Arizona at the Caurus Academy.
