Westinster Christian falls in regional final
The effort and determination to win was evident.
Unfortunately, Westminster Christian didn't get the results it was looking for.
Third-seeded Orangeville, playing the last 4 minutes and 38 seconds without 6-6 senior center Braden O' Haver, made enough shots down the stretch and outlasted second-seeded Westminster Christian 55-53 to win the Class 1A Westminster regional in Elgin Friday night.
The host Warriors end the season 18-10. It was Orangeville's first regional title in 26 years.
"The kids played hard and never gave up," said Westminster Christian coach Andy Zielinski. "Orangeville deserved to win. They made big shots down the stretch. We didn't play a good first half. We scored only 17 points and settled too much on the 3-pointer. In the second half, we attacked the basket better and got inside shots. The kids are disappointed but we had a very good year."
The Warriors trailed 23-17 at halftime and 32-23 with 5:33 left in the third quarter before mounting a valiant comeback.
Spearheaded by a pair of 3-pointers each from Nick Kleczynski and Elliott Brandon, the Warriors spurted to a 13-0 run to take a 36-32 lead with 2:49 left in the third quarter.
The Warriors' biggest lead of the game was 6, 48-42 after a putback by Kleczynski with 5:18 left in the game.
The Broncos (17-12), paced by a pair of treys by Carter Kleckler and a 3 by Austin Guy, went on a 9-0 run to take a 51-48 lead with 2:26 left in the game.
The Warriors didn't quit and got within 55-53 on a layup by Scott Graziano with 3.3 seconds left. But time ran out on the Warriors and their 2016-2017 season.
Westminster Christian, 9-of-23 from 3-point range for 39 percent, were led by Kleczynski with 15 points (3 treys), 13 in the second half.
Brandon tallied 13 with 3 shots made from beyond the arc.
Guy, with 4 3's and 18 points in the second half, led the Broncos with 22 points while Noah Parriott added 12 for the winners.
"We played most of the fourth quarter without our center (O' Haver) and our kids really stepped up," said Orangeville coach Jesse Stamm. "We showed a lot of character in the fourth quarter after Westminster took the lead. This team has showed a lot of character all season long. This is the first regional championship in 26 years for the school. We beat a very good Westminster team at their place. The kids really deserved it."