This week, Westminster basketball took part in the Flyer Invitational, a three-day event featuring eight teams.
On Monday night, the Wildcats were slotted against the Titans of Confluence in the #2 vs. #7 matchup. The team left no doubt that they were the higher seed, securing an 80-48 victory led by a combined 50 points from senior JD Robertson and sophomore Will Powers.
The semifinal contest would be a battle of Wildcats, with Westminster facing the #3 seed Logan-Rogersville. The boys carried a narrow 3-point lead into the 4th quarter and kept it in their grasp thanks to the team shooting 10-10 from the line in the fourth. Powers and senior Evan Montandon led the the scoring charge with 15 and 14 points, respectively.
The championship game pegged the Wildcats against the 2024 Class 5 State Champion DeSmet Spartans. The game was a back-and-forth battle, with DeSmet carrying a two-point lead into the fourth quarter. The Wildcats briefly reclaimed the lead with just over two minutes after a three-pointer from sophomore Darrell Crump. However, the Spartans were able to regain their lead and thwart the upset attempt by the Wildcats with a successful trips to the free throw line to close out the game.
Throughout the three-day tournament, statistical leaders for Westminster were as follows: Points: Powers (17.7 avg), Rebounds: Powers (5.7 avg), Assists: Powers, Montandon, junior Tobi Akinyede (3.3 avg).
Westminster had two players named to the all-tournament team: JD Robertson and Will Powers.
