West Torrance Girls Basketball Triumphs in Battle at the Beach Opener

The West Torrance girls basketball team achieved a promising start in the Battle at the Beach Tournament, defeating Village Christian 49-38 on March 5, 2024, at Redondo Union High School. This victory marks an important step for the Warriors as they aim to secure a spot in the CIF-SS playoffs this season.

West Torrance jumped to a commanding 14-point lead in the first quarter, driven by strong performances from freshman Kayla Nayak and sophomore Hailey Igbokwe. Nayak scored nine of her game-high 17 points in the opening period, while Igbokwe contributed five of her nine points.

“We started out really well, especially defensively,” said West Torrance coach Keith Prendergast. “I knew they would bounce back and make a run, but I’m proud of how we responded and got a good win.” Prendergast praised Nayak as a “natural scorer” who adds significant value to the team, noting her aggressive playing style. He also commended Igbokwe for her development since last season, highlighting her hard work and improvement.

As the second quarter commenced, West Torrance maintained its momentum. Nayak hit her third three-pointer, followed by a three-pointer from Katie Moore, propelling the Warriors to a 22-point lead at halftime. Nayak continued to shine, scoring another three-pointer to begin the second half.

Despite West’s commanding lead, Village Christian mounted a comeback, narrowing the gap to 15 points late in the third quarter. Igbokwe responded with two key baskets in the fourth quarter, and Nayak executed a reverse lay-up to extend the lead to 46-28 with just over five minutes remaining.

“I think we played really hard tonight, especially defensively,” Igbokwe stated after the game. She finished with nine points and 11 rebounds, emphasizing the importance of this tournament for the team’s preparation for league play.

Although Village Christian attempted to close the deficit again, a pivotal three-pointer from Moore with 2:15 left secured a 16-point lead for West Torrance. Nayak expressed optimism about the tournament’s impact on their season: “Doing well in this tournament will give us some momentum early in the season and hopefully by league we will be ready so that we can make the playoffs this year. Our goal is to do well in playoffs and hopefully hang a CIF banner.”

The Warriors will continue pool play on March 6, 2024, against Leuzinger, aiming to build on their successful start in the tournament.