Westminster Girls Defeat MICDS In District Final

Westminster Christian freshman Kayla Armstrong had a huge smile as Sadie Stipanovich stepped to the free throw line with nine seconds remaining and the Wildcats up by six points in the Class 4 District 6 championship game against MICDS Friday night.

Armstrong had plenty to be happy about as she scored 11 fourth quarter points to lead the Wildcats to a 56-52 victory at Clayton High School.

It was only the second loss of the season for MICDS. Both came against Westminster.

"We like to play pressure defense and pressure offense and you can't stop that at the end of the game," Armstrong said. "We wanted this so badly. Our motto all season was "Why Not Us."

Armstrong converted all five of her fourth quarter free throws including four in the final 46 seconds with the game and the season on the line.

"Kayla is a great talent with very high potential," said Westminster coach Steve Stipanovich of his point guard who has played all season with a plate and nine screws on her arm after three surgeries. "We wanted the ball in her hands at the end of the game and the girls were smart enough to get her the ball.

"I told the girls with about four minutes to play that it was going to come down to making basketball plays."

Both teams made plays throughout the game but it was Westminster which made more down the stretch.

MICDS freshman Emily Kyman was outstanding in the first half. The guard scored 13 points, including three 3-pointers, and the Rams had a 26-22 halftime advantage.

"The girls were very negative at halftime," Stipanovich said. "I told them it was just a four point game. The whole focus at halftime was to stay positive."

Campbell Torchin scored eight third quarter points for MICDS and Delaney Hobbs had a steal and field goal at the buzzer and the Rams led 38-33 going into the fourth quarter.

Westminster's Brooke Cusumano hit the third of her three 3-pointers to open the fourth quarter and it was a battle the rest of the way.

MICDS led 45-43 with 3:22 to play after a field goal by Hobbs on a nice assist from Kyman. It would be the last lead of the game for the Rams. Armstrong tied it with a field goal and Stipanovich put Westminster ahead for good with a three-point play with 2:01 to play. Armstrong would ice it with a field goal and four free throws in the final 90 seconds.

"I was proud of both teams," MICDS coach Scott Small said. "It was a heckuva game. It was the kind of game you like to see in a district championship. Both teams came out and played well. It was a game of runs late and they made more of  them at the end of the game.

"It was a tough loss but a great season. This was such a humble group of girls who never showed any arrogance. I couldn't be more proud of these girls."

The Rams will miss leading scorer Delaney Hobbs, who will be attending Wake Forest University. But they return the nucleus of their team.

"This was such a great season," MICDS junior guard Cameron Jackson said. "We were not able to make it past districts but we are so excited about our record and what we accomplished this season. I have no regrets at all."

MICDS, which finished with a 22-2 record, were led by Kyman's 18 points. Hobbs added 15 in her high school finale and Torchin had 10, all of them in the second half.

Armstrong had 15 and Courtney Powell added 13 for the Wildcats, who improved to 18-7. Westminster, which has won 10 of its last 11 games, will play Jennings (22-6) Wednesday in the Class 4 sectional at Parkway West.

Jennings defeated McCluer South-Berkeley 54-45 in the Class 4 District 5 championship game.