Westminster is hosting the boys MSHSAA Class 5 District 3 basketball tournament with the quarterfinal and semifinal games completed this week and the championship game on Monday night. Westminster earned the second seed in the eight team district.
The quarterfinal game on Wednesday night went according to plan as the Cats raced out to an early lead over Riverview Gardens and never looked back. Behind the strength of their tenacious defense, Westminster led 27-11 at the half and then quickly expanded that lead in the third quarter. The teams played the fourth quarter mostly with a running clock as the boys maintained a 30+ lead for the duration of the game. Senior JD Robertson scored 21 points going 6 for 10 from three while the team never allowed Riverview to score more than nine points in any quarter. The final score ended up 64-29.
In the semifinal game on Friday, Ladue visited Jim Marsh court for the two versus three seed matchup. The first half stayed tight until sophomore Will Powers went on a seven point scoring spree at the end of the second quarter to give the Wildcats a 32-23 advantage going into halftime. Powers scored 17 of his 28 points in the first half. Ladue's defense clamped down in the third quarter, only allowing eight Wildcat points, as they were able to cut into the lead and narrow the gap to 40-36.Â
The two teams battled back forth throughout the final period before Ladue cut the lead to just one with an "and one" three point play with only 50 seconds remaining. Senior Evan Montandon was then fouled and calmly stepped to the line to make both free throws and extend the lead back to three. Junior Tobi Akinyede, who contributed 17 points of his own, then made a crucial block on a driving Ladue player at the basket and was rewarded immediately receiving a full court pass from Powers to make a layup and all but secure the victory. Three more free throws, one from senior JD Robertson and the other two from Montandon, sandwiched around a Ladue layup closed out the scoring and 60-54 win for the Cats.
Westminster will now face a familiar foe in Metro League partner John Burroughs in the district championship game on Monday night at 7 p.m. at Westminster. All tickets must be purchased online through the MSHSAA website.
