Harvard-Westlake takes charge of Mission League race.

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If there was any question about which boys’ basketball team was the one to beat in Mission League play this season, it was answered Wednesday. Loudly and clearly, I might add, by Harvard-Westlake in a 75-65 victory over Crespi, one of the teams that was supposed to offer the Wolverines a challenge.

‘This was a tough loss for us,’’ Crespi Coach Russell White said. ‘We’re still trying to find ourselves and Harvard-Westlake doesn’t have that problem. We didn’t finish and they did, plain and simple.’’

The Wolverines, No. 21 in The Times’ rankings, don’t have much time to enjoy the victory, not with a game against long-time rival Chaminade on Friday. The weekend offers a chance to rest; however, a showdown against Loyola looms on Jan. 14. It’s a game that will certainly establish a clear cut front-runner for the league title.

--Sean Ceglinsky