BOYS' BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK: H.-W. READY FOR NEXT STEP.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

Harvard-Westlake never thought it would be preparing for a first-round game in the state boys' basketball playoffs.

The Wolverines, who won the Southern Section Division IV-A championship game by beating El Segundo on Friday, were just hoping to improve this year in what many considered a growing season for a team consisting primarily of underclassmen.

Reaching the division final was a farfetched dream, let alone the State playoffs.

``It definitely wasn't one of our preseason goals,'' Harvard-Westlake coach Greg Hilliard said.

Well, things change quickly when talented players such as Bryce Taylor, Craig Weinstein and Evan Harris are involved, which is why the Wolverines will play host to Serra tonight in the first round of the Division IV playoffs at 7:30.

``Now that we're here, we hope to win a couple of games and get as far as we can.''

A few years ago, the Wolverines' goals were a little different. When Jason and Jarron Collins were on campus, the two future NBA players put Harvard-Westlake among the elite. Back then, the thought of not participating in the state playoffs wasn't an option.

``The goal then was to win the state championship,'' Hilliard said. ``We looked beyond the Southern Section championship - had we fallen short, it would have been a major disappointment.''

Coming into the season, Hilliard hoped the Wolverines' young players could develop at a respectable clip, then put Harvard-Westlake in position to challenge for a Southern Section title the next two years.

Taylor, a sophomore, was the centerpiece around whom the Wolverines would build.

It just so happens that Taylor, and his young teammates, came around quicker than anticipated. Taylor had a strong game in the final against El Segundo on Friday, scoring 29 points.

``It's gotten to the point now where we expect those types of performances from Bryce,'' Hilliard said. ``It's gotten to that point for him.''

It also helps that the senior Weinstein is around to provide a steadying influence. When Taylor was injured Friday, Weinstein focused on picking up the slack offensively, finishing with 18 points.

``It wasn't so much how many points he had but when he got them,'' Hilliard said. ``He stepped up at the right time.''

Serra fell to Verbum Dei in the Division IV-A final.

``They're fast, athletic and deep and they'll present a number of problems for us,'' Hilliard said.

--Lancers in tough spot: Thousand Oaks, which lost to Loyola in the Division I-A final Saturday, now turns to mighty Westchester, which spent a good portion of the year as the top-ranked team in the country, on the road.

--Stoneridge rolling a long way: Stoneridge Prep, which lost to Price in the Division V-A final, plays Reedly Immanuel tonight at 7:30.

Reedly is about 15 miles from Fresno.

``It's going to be a long way away, but this is what it's all about,'' Stoneridge Prep coach Jack Pollon said. ``Getting on a bus, spending the day together, getting something to eat. We earned this and we're looking forward to it.''

CIF STATE PLAYOFFS

First round, tonight, 7:30

DIVISION I

Thousand Oaks at Westchester; Loyola at Long Beach Poly

DIVISION IV

Serra at Harvard-Westlake

DIVISION V

Stoneridge Prep at Immanuel

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CIF STATE PLAYOFFS (see text)