Pali, Venice Begin Western League: Mitch Chortkoff, Mirror sports writer

Western League boys basketball teams looked strong in non-league competition. Only one lost more games than it won. On Friday night, league games will get  underway, with Palisades playing at University and Venice going to Fairfax. Westchester has the best record of the league’s teams with 12 wins and two losses. Fairfax is 11-2 and Hamilton 9-4. Palisades is 7-7, Venice 5-5 and University 6-8. Palisades lost a non-league game to Washington last Friday. 62-57. Venice has an impressive four scorers averaging in double figures. Noah Gottlieb leads with 16.4 per game, followed by Calvin Morgan (13.2), Ryan Flynn (12.2) and Chevoirye Wade (11.2). Flynn is the leading rebounder (7.4) and Dion Overstreet the assist leader (4.6). In girls’ play, Venice had the best non-league record with eight wins and five losses. Venice was scheduled to play at Westchester today and will be home Friday against Fairfax, with both games having a 4 p.m. starting time. Venice has three double figure scorers. Shannon Nakamine is averaging 13.3, Ivory Blackmon 11.7 and Marlee Rice 11.1. The leading rebounder is Jewell Morris with 8.2 per game. Westchester is 7-6, Palisades 4-5. Fairfax 4-6, and both Hamilton and University 1-6. Megan Coulter is Palisades’ leading scorer with 11.6 per game. Jaega Haralambus averages 10.7 and Tawana Briggs is the leading rebounder (4.4). Palisades was scheduled at Hamilton today and home Friday against University, with both games having a 4 p.m. tipoff time. In non-league boys’ games, New Roads won last week at Crossroads, 63-50. New Roads has an 8-3 record and Crossroads is 1-10. Malibu defeated Lighthouse Christian, 78-24. Malibu will have its Frontier League opener Friday night at home against Santa Paula. St. Monica made 10 three-point shots but lost to Palos Verdes, 66-60. The Mariners, who have a 6-7 record, will play their Camino Real League opener Friday night against Cathedral and will play again Saturday night against Cantwell-Sacred Heart. Both games will be at home. Santa Monica is scheduled to begin Ocean League competition Wednesday night at Morningside and will be home Friday night against Inglewood. Brentwood defeated Village Christian, 50-40 and will begin its Olympic League schedule Friday night by hosting Campbell Hall. Brentwood has a 9-6 record and Campbell Hall is 11-2.