Ignoto on the mark for Westlake

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers SHE'S GOT GAME—Westlake High junior guard Taylor Ignoto leads the Warriors in points and rebounds per contest. Since Westlake High junior Taylor Ignoto previously lived in Massachusetts, it's easy to forgive her for rooting for the Boston Celtics.

When the NBA Finals took place between the Lakers and Celtics last June, however, Ignoto decided to keep her faith toward the green-and-white on the down-low.

Ignoto didn't have any problems keeping her loyalty toward Boston a secret, but she can no longer do the same with her own basketball skills.

Now in her third year on the WHS varsity squad, Ignoto can no longer hide the fact that she's become one of the Marmonte League's top players.

Last season, Ignoto was named to the All-Marmonte League second team. According to Westlake head coach William Burr, Ignoto was averaging approximately 17 points per game and seven rebounds per contest entering Wednesday night's home game against Simi Valley.

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers SAY WHAT?—Warrior Taylor Ignoto is a big Boston Celtics fan. "It's been a trying year for (Ignoto) because for the first time she really is the focal point of this team," Burr said. "Other coaches look at us, and the first thing they realize is that they have to stop her.

"So far, she's handled that pressure well. She gets doubleteamed a lot, so that's a big reason why we've worked on her mid-range game a little more," the coach said.

Ignoto said she's grown into her role as Westlake's top scoring option.

"It was hard for me, at first, and it's still a lot of pressure, but I think I like it more now," Ignoto said. "I like being the person that leads the team. I love being the player that gets the ball if we absolutely need a basket."

Burr said Ignoto's skills on the hardwood have improved dramatically in the past year.

"When I first took over the team in April of 2007, Taylor did not like contact," Burr said. "She was primarily just a spot-up shooter. It took me staying on her each practice and convincing her that she needed to drive to the basket more."

Ignoto believes she wouldn't be the player she is today without the help of Burr, who the junior calls "the best coach I've ever had."

"We had a big talk when (Burr) first got here on what he wanted out of me," Ignoto said. "He helped me a lot with my driving to the basket in order to see other options. He's also helped me work on using my right hand more." (Ignoto is a lefty)

"He's a great coach, and he teaches us about more than just basketball. He also teaches us about life."

At 5-foot-8, Ignoto works as a point guard and shooting guard. Burr said he likes using Ignoto as a shooting guard because it makes her more of an offensive threat, while Ignoto prefers handling the point.

"I like playing point guard a little more because I feel I have more control of the game at that position," Ignoto said.

Although the junior has improved in many aspects of her game, Burr wants Ignoto to be more vocal in the future. Senior captain Austin Walker believes she can help Ignoto in that area.

"She's more of the captain of the offense, while I'm more of a defensive captain," Walker said.

"Where she is very quiet on the floor, I'm very vocal. Hopefully, my vocal leadership can rub off on her, and hopefully her basketball skills will rub off on me."

Ignoto may be quiet, but junior captain Chantal Hart said she can still motivate teammates.

"I'm coming back from knee surgery this year, and early in the season I wasn't as confident in myself as I used to be," Hart said.

"Taylor always comes up to me in practice and tells me that I can get the job done. She takes away my nerves. She's like the calm half of me."

While Ignoto is working on her leadership skills, the thing the junior wants more than anything else is what the Celtics have—a championship.

Westlake was 10-4 in league play in 2006, but in Ignoto's first two years at WHS, the Warriors have only won 10 league games total and have failed to make the postseason.

For Westlake to return to the playoffs, Ignoto said it will take the entire team believing in itself.

"When Burr took over, the first thing he said he wanted was for our team to become a family," Ignoto said. "I think we have. Everyone seems to get along with each other real well.

"It just comes down to everyone playing with a little more heart. We really can play well, and we really can make the playoffs; we just have to believe it."