Basketball Recap: Westlake Charter Takes a Loss

Westlake Charter and Fortune Early College squared off in some playoff action on Friday, but Westlake Charter had to settle for second. They had to suffer through a 79-49 loss at the hands of the Fortune Early College Panthers. The defeat continues a trend for the Explorers in their matchups with the Panthers: they've now lost seven in a row.

Brian Ash

Points

02/21/25 vs Fortune Early College	17
02/19/25 vs Aspire Langston Hughes Academy	22
02/14/25 @ Delta	15

When it comes to explaining why Westlake Charter lost, don't look at Brian Ash. Despite the final result, he dropped a double-double with 17 points and ten boards. Ash's big performance that evening made it three games in a row in which he has scored at least 15 points. Quinones Fleeton was another key player, putting up nine points.

Even though they lost, Westlake Charter smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 14 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least ten offensive rebounds in 12 consecutive games.

Fortune Early College got their victory on the backs of several key players, but it was Malachi Hollingsworth out in front who posted 14 points and six assists. Those six assists gave Hollingsworth a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Mekhi Tanner, who had 17 points.

Westlake Charter's loss dropped their record down to 17-6. As for Fortune Early College, the win (which was their eighth in a row) raised their record to 21-7.

Westlake Charter does not have any more games scheduled as of now. As for Fortune Early College, they wasted no time getting back out on the court and have already played their next matchup, a 75-64 defeat against Argonaut on the 25th.