District 9 basketball: Moniteau girls set up semifinal against Karns City after surviving Westinghouse
CHERRY TWP — Moniteau turned the ball over 36 times and sank only 11 of 23 free throws.
But when the Warriors needed to make plays at the end, they did.
Alyssa Thompson sank a layup with 20 seconds to play — snapping a 41-41 tie — and Emily Matz added one just before the buzzer as Moniteau held off Westinghouse 45-42 Wednesday night in a District 8/9 Class 3A girls basketball playoff game.
Moniteau (10-11) led 36-24 with 5:50 remaining before the Bulldogs (12-9) came storming back.
“That was all turnovers,” Warrior coach Dee Arblaster said. “That's been our issue all year. We struggle to handle the ball. It’s been a consistent problem.”
The lead changed hands five times in the first half, the Warriors taking a 20-16 edge into the break. Moniteau jumped out to its first double-digit lead midway through the third quarter.
Desirata Mensah-Agyekum drained a 3-pointer for Westinghouse with 1:03 remaining, giving the Bulldogs their first lead of the second half at 41-39. Matz answered with a game-tying layup 11 seconds later, and Moniteau took control it from there.
Charlotte Thompson led the Warriors with 16 points and eight rebounds. Matz had 11 points and six boards.
“We have a lot of experience playing together, and that helped us late in the game,” Thompson said. “We just had to keep our cool.”
Mensah-Agyekum led Westinghouse with 21 points, seven rebounds and seven steals. Her sister, Ariella, had 16 points and seven steals.
Westinghouse sank just 9-of-39 shots from the floor in the first three quarters. The Bulldogs had 29 turnovers and were out-rebounded 42-26.
“Emily and Alyssa came up with big plays for us late,” Arblaster said. “Charlotte played well in spots and had a solid second half.”
Moniteau will play Karns City at Union High School on Tuesday night in the district semifinals. The Gremlins (22-2) rolled to wins of 56-34 and 50-24 over the Warriors in the regular season.
“We know they're gonna press us, and we have to be ready,” Arblaster said.
“We have to take care of the ball and not make mistakes,” Thompson said. “We know they’re very good, but we’re confident we can do better and look forward to the challenge of getting another win.”
WESTINGHOUSE 42
Ryera Carrington 2-9 1-4 5, Ariella Mensah-Agyekum 5-13 5-7 16, Desirata Mensah-Agyekum 8-22 3-5 21, Kamari West 0-4 0-0 0, Amia Mott 0-2 0-0 0, Na’Kira Taylor-Jones 0-1 0-0 0, Aushika Hambrick 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 15-52 9-16 42.
MONITEAU 45
Gracie Hartle 0-0 1-4 1, Maddy Eury 0-8 1-4 1, Annalyce Baptiste 1-1 0-0 2, Alyssa Thompson 3-12 1-2 7, Sayge Brunst 2-8 3-4 7, Emily Matz 5-8 1-2 11, Charlotte Thompson 6-7 4-7 16. Totals: 17-44 11-23 45.
Westinghouse 9 7 8 18 — 42
Moniteau 11 9 12 13 — 45
3-point goals: Westinghouse 3 (A. Mensah-Agyekum, D. Mensah-Agyekum 2)
Tuesday: Moniteau vs. Karns City at Union, time TBD
-
Moniteau's Emily Matz (25) lunges to recover the ball in a District 8/9 Class 3A girls basketball quarterfinal game against Westinghouse on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
-
Westinghouse's Amia Mott (23) blocks Moniteau sophomore Madalynn Eury's (23) shot in a District 8/9 Class 3A girls basketball quarterfinal game on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
-
Moniteau's Emily Matz (25) drives the ball down the court in a District 8/9 Class 3A girls basketball quarterfinal game against Westinghouse on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
-
The Moniteau student section cheers during a District 8/9 Class 3A girls basketball quarterfinal game against Westinghouse on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
-
Moniteau's Emily Matz (25) in a District 8/9 Class 3A girls basketball quarterfinal game against Westinghouse on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
-
Moniteau's Annalyce Baptiste (4) shoots a lay up in a District 8/9 Class 3A girls basketball quarterfinal game against Westinghouse on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
-
Moniteau's Emily Matz (25) shoots a lay up in the final seconds of a District 8/9 Class 3A girls basketball quarterfinal game against Westinghouse on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
-
Moniteau's Alyssa Thompson attempts a shot against Westinghouse in a District 8/9 Class 3A girls basketball quarterfinal game against Westinghouse on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
-
Moniteau's Sayge Brunst (22) looks for a teammate to pass to in a District 8/9 Class 3A girls basketball quarterfinal game against Westinghouse on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
-
The Moniteau student section cheers after their team makes a free throw in a District 8/9 Class 3A girls basketball quarterfinal game against Westinghouse on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
-
Moniteau's Charlotte Thompson (33) fights to maintain control of the ball in a District 8/9 Class 3A girls basketball quarterfinal game against Westinghouse on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at Moniteau High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
