Harvard-Westlake, Valley Torah Ready to State Their Case

He’s the San Fernando Valley’s most succesful basketball coach with nine Southern Section titles and two state titles, but for Harvard-Westlake High coach Greg Hilliard, it’s never about him.

Yes, the 26-year coach with only one losing season is the common denominator in the Wolverines' overwhelming success heading into tonight’s 7:30 p.m. CIF State playoff opener against visiting Garfield of L.A. But Hilliard, ever humble, would be the last guy to let you know.

“I’m a high school basketball coach, and the spotlight should be on the kids,” Hilliard said. “I know it’s a cliché, but I believe in it. In a big game, they don’t need me to go out there and win. Plus, I have a lot of other coaches, a big staff, and those guys play a big part.”

Harvard-Westlake is 27-4 after defeating Inglewood 47-45 on Saturday in the Div. III-A championship in Anaheim, as Damiene Cain came through with a clutch free throw with 23 seconds left, followed by a game-saving blocked shot.

The Wolverines are a heavy favorite tonight, as Garfield (21-7) figures to be severely undersized against Harvard-Westlake’s frontline of Cain (6-7), Zena Edosomwan (6-8) and Josh Hearlihy (6-7).

Garfield lost to Chatsworth in the City Section Division III final, and that’s about all Hilliard knows about the Bulldogs.

“They’re a City team that we’re literally running into, and they’re 21-7 and have had a great year and traveled back east for a tournament,” Hilliard said. “They’ll be ready, so we don’t take anything for granted.”

When a reporter called Hilliard the Valley’s most decorated coach, he could only crack a small smile and look away.

“I appreciate that. But if we can figure out how to win a little more comfortably, I would have lot fewer gray hairs,” said Hilliard, referring to Harvard-Westlake nearly blowing a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter Saturday. “I guess you could say we have a little system going, we’ve established it works well, and if everyone does their job, the whole thing takes care of itself.”

Harvard-Westlake’s rigorous academic program plays in its favor, not against it, Hilliard said.

“I think it’s a huge edge that people don’t realize,” Hilliard said. “The kids have already learned about commitment. It’s sort of an Ivy League approach, and they’re used to working hard.

"Every day after practice and after games, they have to go home and four hours of homework. The average is three to six hours at Harvard-Westlake, and the players fall within that range.”

Meanwhile, Valley Torah has a new coach, Robert Icart, and the Wolfpack (24-4) have rallied around him by earning a state bid in Div. V tonight against visiting Calvin Christian of Escondido. Tipoff is 7 p.m.

Valley Torah, coming off a 58-51 win Saturday over Bishop Diego in the section championship, is the first orthodox Jewish school in California to win a basketball title. Icart, who is not Jewish, is a head coach for the first time, and he’s made quite an impact.

“This is great. It’s really great, and I’m just so happy for the kids,” Icart said. “I put pressure on these kids to win, and it ended up working out. Now the state tournament is here, and it’s going to be tough, but as a coach I am extremely happy to be coaching the team.”

No matter what happens in the state tournament, there is more basketball ahead for Valley Torah, led by 6-9 senior Aaron Liberman, who averages 18 points. The team is participating in a Jewish basketball national tournament March 20-24 at Yeshiva University in New York.

Icart grew up in Pasadena without a father, and in some ways coaching basketball gives him a sense of family that he never had.

“My dad just walked out on me and mom,” Icart said. “He couldn’t sustain the responsibility of fatherhood. He left me and my mom hanging, and she used to have to work until 10 p.m. every night.”

The dedication he has shown to Valley Torah was something he learned from his mother. It’s a very small all-boys school with fewer than 90 students, but the Wolfpack take their basketball seriously despite a rigorous schedule that includes a heavy academic load and several hours of religious studies every day.

“The team plays hard, and they play together,” Icart said.

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

CIF STATE PLAYOFFS

DIVISION III

Garfield vs. Harvard-Westlake

When: 7:30 tonight

Where: Harvard-Westlake gymnasium, 3700 Coldwater Canyon, Studio City

Records: Garfield 21-7; Harvard-Westlake 27-4

Coaches: Ricardo Rivas, Garfield; Greg Hilliard, Harvard-Westlake

DIVISION V

Calvin Christian vs. Valley Torah

When: 7 tonight

Where: Valley Torah gymnasium, 12517 Chandler Boulevard, Valley Village

Records: Calvin Christian 21-5; Valley Torah 24-4

Coaches: Brad Hollingsworth, Calvin Christian; Robert Icart, Valley Torah