Mustangs focused on one game at a time
Westfield coach Bill Goffney has seen a few common denominators with all the special teams he’s coached over the years.
Great chemistry between the lines. Passion for working in the gym and getting better. Spending time as friends off the court.
This year’s Westfield squad checks all three of those boxes, which has led them to the No. 3 state ranking from the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. The Mustangs trail only Richardson and Duncanville, ranked second and third in the country by MaxPreps, respectively, in Class 6A.
“We do what we call the Breakfast Club, and they come in at 6 in the morning to get some shots up,” Goffney said. “They love being with each other, and they love being in the gym. They’re always together, and they’re always hanging out. I’ve had some good teams, and that was the common thread to all of them. The kids just got a long so well. I’ve got a team of guys who are genuinely friends with each other and like playing for each other. Nobody has to be the star.”
Westfield improved to 17-1 overall and 3-0 in District 14-6A action Saturday afternoon with a 54-44 road victory over Spring ISD rival Dekaney. The Mustangs have won seven consecutive games since their only loss of the season against No. 11 Atascocita back on Dec. 7.
That loss to the Eagles, a 47-43 setback on the road, was avenged in the championship game of the VYPE Holiday Classic on Dec. 29 as Westfield prevailed with a 46-39 victory at the Aldine ISD Campbell Center. The Mustangs have produced some other impressive results this year, including wins over No. 20 Seven Lakes and No. 6 Elkins. They also have beaten The Woodlands Christian and Concordia Lutheran, two of the top-ranked private school teams in the Houston area.
“We’ve just been tough,” said Goffney, who took over the program in 2017. “We’ve seen some good competition — some of the best guards in the city, some of the best big men in the city. We just came in with the same mindset of taking it one game at a time. The guys have just stayed true to what we tried to hang our hat on, which is playing good defense. We’ve been solid on defense all year long. I think that’s been the key to our success.”
One of the top players for Westfield this season has been sophomore guard Zion
Pipkin. Pipkin played his freshman season at The Woodlands Christian, helping the Warriors win the TAPPS 5A state championship. Now he is leading the way for the Mustangs and was named the most valuable player of their most recent tournament.
“Zion just came back home,” Goffney said. “This is where he should have been the whole time. He’s just another Westfield kid who fits right in. He shoots the ball well, and he’s explosive on offense, as everybody knows. More than anything, he’s just a good cog in the wheel as far as his chemistry with the guys. He’s tough, and he’s a great defender. When we need a bucket, he’s the kid that can go get that for you. He was definitely a good addition, and we were glad to see him come back.”
Another player critical to the Mustangs’ success is 6foot-5 senior forward Willie Williams, an experienced player who brings skill, size and toughness to the lineup. Williams averaged a doubledouble last season with 12.8 points and 13.2 rebounds per game.
“Willie is definitely special, and he’s our anchor,” Goffney said. “Willie is a four-year starter for me, and I can’t remember him missing a game in the last four years. Willie brings a little bit of everything. He can pass it, he can shoot it, and he can handle it. He’s a monster on the glass.”
Westfield has seven seniors altogether, and players like Chris Tyler, James Perry, Blake Washington and Mario Johnson bring valuable varsity experience.
“Those are guys that have been with me two years or better,” Goffney said. “They’ve been through a lot, and they’ve played a lot of games. They’ve got a ton of experience, and those kind of guys make it easy. Most times, you’re on autopilot because they know what to do.”
Westfield finished last season with a 23-4 overall record and went 14-0 in district play. But the Mustangs were not able to deliver much in the postseason, falling to Cypress Park in the second round. This year’s team is looking to make a deep run and challenge for a spot in San Antonio.
“Our ultimate goal, of course, is we want to get to the regional tournament and give ourselves a chance to play in the state tournament,” Goffney said. “So we’re going to keep using that focus that we’ve had so far. Even in tournaments when the games are close, back-to-back and whatnot, we still take it one at a time.”