Funderburke Perfect, Heller Jr. Records Double-Double in Westland’s Dominant Win Over Toledo Bowsher

Galloway — As the Westland Cougars prepared for Saturday afternoon’s matchup against Toledo Bowsher, they were still seeking their first win of the season. Despite several close games against good opponents in their first three outings, it felt like only a matter of time before they would break through.

Westland Head Coach Joel Jackson prioritizes facing strong competition over weaker opponents. “The biggest thing is seeing how you stack up against good teams,” he said. “As a Division I team, we’ll need to compete with top Central District teams if we want to win a district title.”

Once freshman Austin Jones ignited the scoring, the game quickly turned into a rout. The Cougars’ suffocating defense forced turnover after turnover, converting them into fast-break points to build a commanding lead. Breaker Heller Jr. added a pair of three-point plays off hard fouls in the quarter, helping Westland surge to a 28-7 lead by the end of the first.

By halftime, the game was nearly at a running clock, with Westland dominating every aspect of play. Coach Jackson explained that the Cougars’ aggressive approach was by design. “This is how we want to play, we just have young players,” he said. “We look good in spurts but struggle at times. The key is getting stops, and once we do that, the offense will come together.”

Leading 44-16 at the half, the Cougars cruised to an 85-31 victory over Toledo Bowsher, securing their first win of the season and keeping the Blue Racers winless. Phoenix Funderburke was flawless from the field, scoring 24 points on 10-of-10 shooting. Breaker Heller Jr. posted a double-double with 14 points and 14 assists, while Ben Barrett and Austin Jones also reached double figures in the win.

With a return to OCC play against Dublin Scioto on Tuesday, Coach Jackson is optimistic about facing the tough competition ahead. “We passed the ball really well today, our team assists were the highest of any game,” he said. “If we continue to share the ball and execute on defense, we’ll have a chance in every game.”

Westland (1-3, 0-1) hosts Dublin Scioto on Tuesday in Ohio Capital Conference action.