Swenson’s last-second layup gets Lions past University

FORT LAUDERDALE Senior guard Stephan Dibongue Swenson’s driving layup with 3.1 seconds remaining sent Westminster Academy past University School 66-64 Saturday night at the inaugural Box Score Report Shootout at Westminster.

It was the second matchup this season between the defending state champions (USchool 5A; Westminster 4A). University School came out on top 53-51 in the first meeting Dec. 6.

Swenson, who is committed to Stetson, drove past University School sophomore standout Jett Howard, got into the lane and hit the decisive points.

“Coach [Ehren Wallhoff ] told me to hold the ball until the last play,” said Swenson, who finished with 16 points. “He told me to hold the ball until 5 seconds, get a play, try to finish, get the win. Even if I would have missed, it would have been a tie game and go [to] overtime.

“… To get that one back against them, it’s big,” he said, referring to the first meeting.

Sophomore center Ben Middlebrooks recorded a double-double for Westminster (10-4) with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Caleb Muller added 14 points and Aidan Abell 13. The Lions played without sophomore Kaleb Walters (hip pointer).

Howard led University School (11-4) with 25 points. He canned six 3-pointers. Senior Roger McFarlane finished with 13 points. Sharks coach Ron Oliver said they tried to keep the ball out of Swenson’s hands as much as possible.

“It was a decision we tried to do all game,” Oliver said. “All game we were trying to get it out of his hands but again he is tough to stop. He really is.”

The see-saw game was tied 49-all going into the fourth quarter.

University School held a 31-30 advantage at the half and Westminster led 17-16 after one.

PINE CREST 52, CHAMINADE-MADONNA 49: Sophomore twins Ausar Thompson and Amen Thompson combined for 33 points for the Panthers (11-3). Pine Crest has won six straight.

Chaminade 6-9 center Andre Weir had a double-double with 17 points and 25 rebounds. Johnny O’Neil added 13 points and 13 rebounds for the Lions (9-5), who have lost three consecutive games.

MIAMI SCHOOLHOUSE PREP 54, STRANAHAN 53: Senior guard Anthony Lopez Jr. scored the eventual gamewinning points on a layup with about seven seconds remaining. Stranahan had a final opportunity, but Chayse Culpepper’s shot went off the front of the rim. Lopez finished with 23 points.

Stranahan won the Class 6A state title a season ago but fell to 12-6 in 2019-2020.

CLEARWATER SURGE CHRISTIAN 75, SUNCOAST 72: Eric Lee scored 26 points and Evansville commit Khalil Shaheed contributed 22 for Surge (13-5).

Evan Stinson led Riviera Beach Suncoast (6-10) with 22 points and Sam Rolle had 21.

Pat Lammer is a correspondent for the South Florida Sun Sentinel.