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End of the line

Westminster Christian knocks White Plains out of the Class 4A playoffs for the second year in a row

Westminster Christian's Tysean Whitehead (22) goes around the defense of Michael McGuirk for two of his 21 points Saturday in the Class 4A Northeast Regionals. (Photos by Stephen Miller)

Westminster Christian’s Tysean Whitehead (22) goes around the defense of Michael McGuirk for two of his 21 points Saturday in the Class 4A Northeast Regionals. (Photos by Stephen Miller)

By Jason Katz
For East Alabama Sports Today

JACKSONVILLE – White Plains coach Chris Randall spoke about the commitment to excellence his Wildcats displayed over the course of their successful season that ended Saturday in the Class 4A Northeast Regional.

Westminster Christian was electric as it beat the Wildcats for the second year in a row, this time 59-47. Last year, the end came in the regional final.

“I don’t want to trivialize death, but losing at the end of a season like this feels like losing something or someone you love,” Randall said. “I knew when we got down by 17 we were going to come back and fight to the very end and have a ‘good death,’ so to speak, and overall I am very proud of my seniors and this team that I love very dearly.”

The Wildcats (25-8) started the game strong as they scored nine points early before Westminster could get its feet set and start to move the ball on offense. Westminster guard Tysean Whitehead, who was not a factor down low in last year’s playoff matchup, proved to be the difference Saturday as he had 21 points and 12 rebounds.

“He was a big mismatch that they had on us,” Randall said. “I think he is the most improved player that we have played this year and the way his footwork has improved since last year is amazing.”

Whitehead got support from Jarrett Murphy’s 15 points and John Kendall’s 11. Kendall hit three 3-pointers.

Westminster (27-3) finally drew even with 34 seconds left in the first quarter, but Murphy Doss’ 3-point got the Wildcats out of the quarter with a 14-11 lead.

A 3-pointer by Kevin Carr gave White Plains a 17-11 lead with 7:21 left in the second quarter, but the Wildcats didn’t score the rest of the half. Westminster scored the final 13 points to take a seven-point halftime lead.

“They come out with so much energy and like to punch you in the mouth,” Westminster coach Ronnie Stapler said, “so I told my guys just to weather the storm and really just wait and settle in and get it done the way we need to.

“We are not a great team, but we defend well. We are going to do that every night and in this game we did it almost perfectly.”

The lead grew to as many as 19 in the third quarter, but White Plains fought back and got as close as seven with 1:38 to play.

Michael McGuirk led White Plains with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Murphy Doss scored 14, while Eli Hightower and Kevin Carr scored seven and six, respectively.

Westminster will face Cherokee County Wednesday at 2:15 p.m. in the 4A regional finals.

Westminster Christian 59, White Plains 47

WHITE PLAINS (25-8) – Kevin Carr 2-7 1-2 6, Eli Hightower 3-6 0-0 7, Michael McGuirk 5-13 4-4 16, Lawrence Jackson 1-3 0-0 2, Murphy Doss 5-8 2-2 14, Jerod Guthrie 0-4 2-2 2, Quez Wyatt 0-2 0-0 0, Macey Carr 0-3 0-0 0, Brett Beavers 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-46 9-10 47.

WESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN (27-3) – Jared Smith 0-3 1-4 1, Trey Petty 3-8 3-4 9, Tysean Whitehead 8-13 5-6 21, John Kendall 3-6 2-3 11, Jarrett Murphy 3-4 8-15 15, Auston Leslie 0-1 0-0 0, John Parker 0-0 0-0 0, Larkin Iso 1-3 0-0 2, Jackson Kendall 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-39 19-32 59.

White Plains 14 3 11 19 — 47
Westminster 11 13 18 17 — 59

3-point goals: White Plains 6-24 (K. Carr 1-3, Hightower 1-4, McGuirk 2-6, Jackson 0-1, Doss 2-4, Guthrie 0-4, Wyatt 0-2); Westminster 4-12 (Smith 0-1, Petty 0-2, Jo. Kendall 3-6, Murphy 1-1, Iso 0-1, Ja. Kendall 0-1). Rebounds: White Plains 25 (McGuirk 11); Westminster 35 (Whitehead 12). Total fouls: White Plains, Westminster 15. Officials: Casey Rager, Dexter Harrel, Ron Harris.

Eli Hightower launches a long-range 3-pointer over Westminster's John Kendall Saturday. The White Plains captain had one 3 among the seven points in the final game of his high school career. (Photo by Stephen Miller)

Eli Hightower launches a long-range 3-pointer over Westminster’s John Kendall Saturday. The White Plains captain had one 3 among the seven points in the final game of his high school career. (Photo by Stephen Miller)

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