Prep Basketball GIRLS : Westlake 52, Newbury Park 47

Westlake High Coach Nancy Bowman is quietly building a dynasty in the Marmonte League. Her team’s victory over rival Newbury Park at Westlake clinched at least a share of its third consecutive league championship.

The Warriors (9-1 in league, 12-6 overall) will attempt to clinch outright possession of the title Friday when they travel to Camarillo.

For a while Wednesday it looked as if the celebration might have had to wait. Newbury Park held a 15-11 advantage at the end of the first quarter and led, 35-34, with less than a minute remaining in the third period. But Westlake forward Lisa Hall, who finished with 10 points, hit a 16-foot set shot at the buzzer to give the Warriors a 36-35 lead. It was an advantage they would never relinquish.

All-Southern Section guard Michelle Stevens again paced Westlake in scoring with a season-high 29 points. She also grabbed 10 rebounds. In her four years as a varsity player, she has never lost to Newbury Park and winning the league championship against the Panthers was special.

“It was so much better clinching it against them rather than anyone else because they’re one of our biggest rivals and they’re also a very good team,� she said. “This was definitely my best game. My shots were finally falling in.�

Newbury Park, which entered the game in a second-place tie with Simi Valley, fell to 7-3 in league and 14-6 overall. The Panthers were led by forward Vanessa Hornbuckle, who scored 17 points. Chris Hagemann added 12 points.