Boys Basketball Districts Preview

After finishing the regular season with a record of 16-9, Boys Basketball will play MICDS in the first round of the Class 4 District 5 tournament on Saturday at noon. The game against MICDS will be the third time the two teams have met this season, and the second time this week.

The teams have split their first two matchups so far. Westminster’s early season loss to the Rams was both their worst game and worst loss of the season; they shot just 29 percent from the field and 23 percent from three-point range.

On Tuesday, Westminster defeated MICDS in their regular season finale by a score of 55-49. Jerram Adams led Westminster with 16 points on 4-8 shooting from three point range. Brennan Orf contributed 13 points of his own. The Wildcats held the lead throughout the first and second quarters, and stretched the lead to fourteen towards the end of the third. It looked like MICDS might make a comeback in the final three minutes, but Westminster closed the game out strong and never really let the Rams have a chance – something they will have to do throughout Districts if they want a shot of winning.

In Westminster’s last three games – wins over Lutheran South, Priory, and MICDS (all teams which Westminster had lost to in their first matchups of the season) – there has been a common theme: the Wildcats have stepped on their opponent’s and given them no chance to make a comeback in the final minutes. Also, in each of the last two games, Matt George has scored nine points on 3-5 shooting from the three point line. His contributions have been a big part of the difference in both wins.

MICDS finished the regular season with a record of 12-12, good enough for the five seed in the six-team district. Their leading scorer is Jack Pronger, a six foot, five inch Sophomore who looks like he should be able to play inside but prefers to step outside and launch three-pointers. He shoots just under 37 percent from deep. Jack Brooks, a small Senior guard averaging 9.8 points per game, is the main ball handler for the Rams.

Westminster should win on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats have certainly been known come out flat and start games terribly, but it shouldn’t take their best game to beat MICDS. Westminster is capable of winning this District; they’ve beaten every team they’ve played at least one time. Ladue is the only wildcard in the District, but their 16-7 record makes them appear less scary and invincible.

If the Wildcats win, their next game will be on Tuesday at 7:00 PM against number-one overall seed Ladue. If they lose, their season is done, and five Westminster Seniors’ careers are over.

“The reality of the situation is bringing us to a new intensity level,” said Jerram Adams.

The Wildcats will be doing everything they can to extend their season starting on Saturday at noon.