Standouts: Champagnat Catholic @ Westminster Academy
In a battle of the Lions, the Westminster Academy Lions used a 19-4 fourth quarter to defeat the Champagnat Catholic Lions 64-44. While the final score looks lopsided, this game was close for most of three quarters. Westminster Academy went…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingIn a battle of the Lions, the Westminster Academy Lions used a 19-4 fourth quarter to defeat the Champagnat Catholic Lions 64-44. While the final score looks lopsided, this game was close for most of three quarters. Westminster Academy went on an early 8-0 run to start the second quarter before seeing Champagnat Catholic battle back to cut it to single digits heading into the break. Champagnat would cut the lead to as little as two points in the third before the final quarter. Champagnat scored just 18 points in the final two quarters after 26 in the first half.
Lets look at some standouts from this game:
- Kaleb Walters: Westminster Academy – Some guys just have an extra step in their ladder and Walters (2022) is one of them. Walters an an athletic shooting guard who showed off his vertical leap in the first half with an emphatic dunk. At six-foot-three, Walters was able to elevate over defenders for a couple of sweet jump shots. The sophomore finished with 14 points and looks like a star in the making.
- Caleb Muller: Westminster Academy – With the game tight for 24 minutes, Muller was a huge difference in keeping Westminster Academy in front. A (2021) transfer from Spanish River, Muller knocked down four 3-pointers to finish with a game high 16 points. Perhaps his biggest shot of the night occurred at the end of the third quarter with Champagnat closing the margin to two points. Muller took a pass from (2021) guard Troy Boynton and knocked down a corner three as time expired. On a team that lost the nations all-time leader in 3-pointers made in Chase Johnston (546), Muller’s ability to hit from long range could be a big reason for Westminster Academy to win its fourth straight state championship.
- Anthony Salazar: Champagnat Catholic – One of the reasons Champagnat Catholic was able to hang around was due to the play of Salazar (2022). Salazar knocked down two of the Lions six 3-pointers to finish with a team high ten points. Salazar and company did a good job of moving the ball around as well as denying sophomore Ben Middlebrooks the ball in the first half.
- Ben Middlebrooks: Westminster Academy – As I stated above, Middlebrooks was fairly quite in the first half, a combination of lack of touches and Champagnat denying him to to touch the ball in the paint. However, the six-foot-nine forward eventually got his to finish with 13 points and 19 rebounds. Frankly put, Middlebrooks was one of the biggest guys on the floor and able to swallow up any rebound near him. As of now, he has received offers from schools such as Wake Forest, Florida, Iowa State and more. In addition, he was recently named to the Broward County’s boys basketball Fab Five by the Sun Sentinel.
- Stephan Dibongue: Westminster Academy – Dibongue has a high basketball IQ and looked like a leader on the floor for the Lions. Dibongue seemed to be in the right place at the right time and a step ahead of everyone else on the floor. As a matter of fact, I overhead a Champagnat assistant on the bench talking about his abilities for part of the game. Dibongue finished with 13 points and is a guy I would want on my team if I were making a run at another state championship.
For any Prep Hoops news or information, please contact Michael Costeines on Instagram @Steins_23 or follow him on twitter @Mungertown_Mike23.