Youth basketball ends, opens again

WINNERS- The seventh- to ninth-grade division champs show off their trophies. From left, assistant coach Larry Bernstein, Jake Bernstein, Spencer Wakefield, Oren Rosen, Dylan Zimmerman, Nick Mazzeo, Ryan Yamashita, coach Kelvin Yamashita. (Not pictured: Rob Darakjian, Billy Asarch and Vinni Kaushik). The Westlake National Junior Basketball League completed another six-week summer season with its championship games on Aug. 19 at the Westlake High School gym. More than 200 boys and girls participated in Championship Day.

The results are as follows:

•Third-grade division: Tar Heels defeat Huskies, 26 to 24.

•Fourthgrade division: Fighting Irish defeat Huskies, 39 to 38.

•Fifth-grade division: Fighting Irish defeat Huskies, 28 to 25.

•Sixth-grade division: Waves defeat Buckeyes, 43 to 37.

•Seventh, eighth and ninthgrade division: Trojans defeat Fighting Irish, 47 to 37.

Registration for the winter 2007-08 season for both boys and girls in grades one through nine is open at www.westlakenjb.org. Complete league information can be found on the website.

ON THEIR HEELS- The third grade Tar Heels basketball team celebrates being named division champions in the Conejo Valley Westlake National Junior Basketball League. Back row, from left: coach Wayne Lorch, Alex Jelinek, Connor Matro, Noah Miller, Michael Noack, Johnny Mitchell and coach Dan Whitney. Front row: Zachary Lorch, Ryan Whitney, Jake Marek and Jack Cheney. The league is for youth living in Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Newbury Park, Malibu and Calabasas.

The winter season will consist of two groups, Divisional (Recreational) and All-Net.

•Divisional (Recreational) Group program has individual divisions by grade. A draft is conducted for each division, and strict procedures are adhered to with the goal of assuring evenly matched teams.

Westlake NJB emphasizes teaching basketball skills and sportsmanship through participation. Five-period games are played to insure that all team members have adequate playing time.

•All-Net Group provides a higher level of competition. Each grade division will have at least one team. Players are drafted for the AllNet teams before the draft for the Divisional Group.

Mandatory tryouts are in October. All-Net teams play by high school rules with no guarantee of playing time.

Westlake NJB is a parent-run, volunteer league dedicated to providing a fun, valuable experience for the community's children. Funding comes entirely from contributions of local businesses and individuals, along with player registration fees.