A most unlikely source of offense helped Westlake make one final run as the Chaps pulled away from visiting Bastrop for an 83-71 win Tuesday.

Sophomore guard R.J. Rowan, who has received extended playing time in the last three weeks because of Westlake’s limited depth in the backcourt, made a pair of three-pointers from the wing during a 14-2 Chap run that opened the final period.

Rowan ended the game with a career-high 11 points, including nine from behind the three-point arc.

“R.J. made some big ones when we needed it,” Westlake coach Tres Ellis said. “We’ve been telling him ‘just shoot your normal shot; you’re a good shooter.’ And he did that.”

The fourth-period spurt gave first-place Westlake (23-4 overall, 8-0 in District 25-5A) a 74-63 lead and finally put away the pesky Bears (15-12, 2-6), who led 61-60 after the third period.

“I’ve been missing my threes lately, but I’ll keep on letting them fly,” said Rowan, a 5-foot-9-inch sophomore. “Cody [Doolin] likes me to keep shooting, and they went in tonight.”

The treys both came on passes from Doolin, Westlake’s senior point guard who tallied 21 points and 10 assists. Eight of Doolin’s points came in the fourth period, when the Chaps outscored Bastrop 23-10.

Defense also helped the Chaps close the game with aplomb. Because of the absence of guards Keaton Lancashire and Hagen Fell, as well as an injury to reserve forward Drew Wikelius, Ellis has been judicious in the use of his preferred press.

However, the Chaps unleashed some pressure in the final period and finally clamped down on the dangerous Bears.

“With our limited depth early on, we couldn’t do everything we wanted,” Ellis said. “And that had me worried, because they [Bastrop] can score. But I knew we had some legs late, and we had to throw something different at them.”

The Chaps also hit the boards after a stern halftime lecture from Ellis about the art of rebounding. Bastrop outrebounded the taller Chaps 16-9 in the first half while ripping down 10 offensive boards.

By the end of the game, the Bears had a 32-31 edge on the glass and 14 offensive rebounds.

Forward Conner Kemper, who had 21 points for Westlake, pulled down a team-high nine rebounds. Carl Meyertons added 13 points and nine boards.

“We started getting the boards and not giving them second chances,” Rowan said. “That helped us have a strong finish.”

Jordan Roach led the hard-luck Bears with 30 points on 11-of-17 shooting. Three of Bastrop’s district losses – to Austin High, Akins and Bowie – have come by a total of five points, and the Bears have lost two overtime games in 25-5A.

Box score
Westlake 83, Bastrop 71

Bowie 23 17 21 10 – 71
Westlake 22 19 19 23 – 83

Bastrop (15-12, 2-6) – Roach 11-17 8-11 30, Harrell 0-4 0-0 0, Thompson 4-9 8-10 17, Monroe 6-19 3-3 17, Thorne 2-9 0-1 4, Clemons 1-1 1-1 3, McCloud 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 24-61 19-26 71.
Westlake (23-4, 8-0) – Powell 2-6 2-2 7, Meyertons 6-9 1-4 13, Kemper 6-9 6-6 21, Leeper 2-6 2-2 6, Doolin 7-14 4-4 21, Rowan 4-6 0-1 11, Cox 1-3 0-0 2, Cummings 1-2 0-1 2. Totals 28-54 15-19 83.

3-Point goals: Bastrop 4-16 (Monroe 2-8, Thompson 1-2, Roach 1-2, Harrell 0-4), Westlake 8-18 (Kemper 3-5, Rowan 3-6, Powell 1-4, Doolin 1-3, Cummings 0-1, Leeper 0-1). Rebounds: Bastrop 32 (Thorne 9), Westlake 31 (Kemper 9). Assists: Bastrop 5 (Monroe 2), Westlake 16 (Doolin 10). Steals: Bastrop 5 (Roach 2), Westlake 5 (Rowan 2). Blocks: Bastrop 0, Westlake 4 (Leeper 3). Turnovers: Bastrop 16, Westlake 16. Total fouls: Bastrop 16, Westlake 15.