March Madness is all about Cinderella stories and upsets—the 15th seed shocking the 2nd
seed or the 9th seed taking down the 8th. Miracles are expected, and surprises are bound to
happen. This year, Westminster had its own Cinderella story.
This winter, the girls’ basketball team set out to turn things around under new head coach Nic
Zenker. They opened the season with a loss to Webster Groves, an expected outcome as they
adjusted to a new coaching system. However, the struggles continued, and the Cats dropped
their next four games, starting the season 0-5. It looked like a repeat of last year, and hope in
the team began to fade.
The Cats faced Whitfield next, a team they had beaten for the past three years. Whitfield put up
a fight, but seniors Addie Kane and Brooke Brassfield stepped up to lead Westminster to its first
win of the season. With a 1-5 record, the Cats entered the MICDS Christmas Tournament.
After losing all three games at MICDS, the team returned from winter break determined to prove
themselves in the Lutheran South Tournament. They suffered losses to St. Pius X and Parkway
Central but found their stride against Bishop DuBourg. Something clicked, and they dominated
DuBourg by 37 points, improving their record to 2-8. Junior Essence Robertson played a key
role in the tournament and earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
Following the tournament, the Cats faced a tough road game against University City High
School. The packed gym and loud band didn’t faze them, but despite their fight, they fell 56-45.
Next up was a three-game home stretch. The first opponent was Fox High School, and behind
standout performances from juniors Addi Drumm and Essence Robertson, the Cats secured a
52-25 victory. Their next challenge was St. Francis Borgia, where Kane’s 23 points helped
Westminster edge out a 45-40 win. With newfound confidence, the Cats faced Eureka in the
final game of the homestand. Drumm, Kane, and Robertson combined for 44 of the team’s 47
points, sealing another victory. Coach Zenker celebrated the moment, telling the team, “Now
that’s what you call a winning streak.”
However, their momentum was halted by Marquette, as they played without key starter Brooke
Brassfield. Her absence was felt, and the Mustangs ended the Cats’ winning streak. They
rebounded against Ladue, with Brassfield’s return bringing stability to the court in a 50-43 win.
Then came their biggest challenge yet: a home game against John Burroughs. The Cats kept it
close, trailing by just four at halftime, but the Bombers pulled away in the second half, handing
Westminster a 53-31 loss.
February arrived, bringing one of the biggest games of the season: Big Night. The Cats needed
a win to earn respect from the school, facing Nerinx Hall in a battle. Trailing 13-11 at halftime,
the game remained close. A 12-7 third-quarter run by the Markers set up an intense fourth
quarter, with Westminster down 25-18. The Blue Crew and parents rallied behind the team, and
the Cats pulled off a thrilling 42-35 victory.
The Cats then dropped their next two games against Principia and Clayton, falling to 7-14.
However, they bounced back, winning three straight games, including a crucial Senior Night
victory over Visitation Academy. The regular season ended with losses to MICDS and Lutheran
South, leaving Westminster with a 10-16 record. Despite this, they secured the 2nd seed in their
district, earning a first-round bye.
The Cats faced St. Charles on March 6th. Knowing St. Charles would analyze game film, Coach
Zenker introduced a new defensive scheme just days before tipoff. The adjustment worked, and
Robertson’s five steals helped propel the Cats to a 41-28 victory, setting up a District
Championship matchup against St. Charles West.
St. Charles West was led by Alex Nicastro, the 4th leading scorer in the Metro area. To counter
her impact, Coach Zenker implemented another new defense, assigning junior Kamia Cleveland
and sophomore Lane Highmark to face-guard Nicastro. The strategy worked, holding her to just
10 points, but her teammates stepped up, leading to a tied game at the end of regulation.
Overtime. The crowd roared as Westminster had a chance to make history. Fueled by pride and
determination, the Cats delivered in the clutch. Steals from Robertson and clutch free throws
from Kane secured a 42-37 victory, cementing Westminster’s name in the history books as
Class 4 District 7 Champions.
Coach Zenker reflected, “I always knew this team was capable of winning Districts; they just had
to believe in themselves. We had a game plan, and they executed it perfectly. I couldn’t be
prouder of these girls.” Kane added, “Our chemistry helped. We’re a family, and we always have
each other’s backs.”
The dream run ended in the state sectionals against Mexico High School, but this season will be
remembered as a Cinderella story. Everyone underestimated the Cats. Nobody believed in
them. Brassfield summed it up best: “It took us believing in ourselves when nobody else did.
That’s when we realized our potential.”
