Two Step: Second District Title In A Row For Westminster Girls

The Westminster Christian girls’ basketball team has this thing about an inside-out game. They love to work the ball into 6-foot-3 junior center Sadie Stipanovich, then work a little give and go with their three pepper-pot guards Kayla Armstrong, Courtney Powell and Brooke Cusumano.

All that inside-out play payed dividends. The Wildcats stormed the MICDS home court for a 54-46 championship. Much to their delight, they go on to sectional play at Parkway West on Wednesday. The Rams season is over.

Westminster moves on with a 24-3 mark while the Rams wind up 19-6.

Things looked hopeful for MICDS. They scored the first two points of the game and had a mini 24-23 halftime lead. Last year in the District finals at Clayton, they had a five point lead at half before losing the game by five.

Westminster has now won four straight wins over the past two season over MICDS, two in district championships.

At the 3:14 mark of the third quarter, Westminster was clinging to  32-31 lead. Then, freshman Adrienne Horn went to work. She dropped in two key layups and the Wildcats opened a 38-33 lead.

In the fourth quarter Armstrong stepped up and hit some key free throws and suddenly the lead was seven then night points. By then, the game was pretty much over.

“They are just bigger and stronger than us,” said MICDS coach Scott Small, scratching his head.

Across the gym, Steve Stipanovich was happy about the win. “Things are a little different this year. Expectations are higher,” said their coach. Good for him, he loses just three seniors, Powell is the only starter.

Sadie Stipanovich was proud of her game high 22 points. She stepped out about 17 feet to knock down a couple of key jumpers in the second half. “I feel comfortable out there. Its hard for other teams to block a shot from there.”

Armstrong finished the game with 17 points, 10 coming in the second half.

Emily Kyman, sophomore knocked down 18 points to lead MICDS. One was beyond the three point arc.

Cambell Torchin, the only senior on the team bowed out with nine points. The victory marked Westminster’s opportunity to celebrate a district title, now two years running.