sports girls westfield newspaper

Kemps, McKeon Lead Blue Devil Girls to Victory

by David B. Corbin

Senior guard Jen Kemps came on strong with an offensive surge in the final minute of the Westfield Blue Devils tournament game against South Brunswick High School and defeated them 52-47 to win the second annual Westfield Tournament on Friday, December 27.

Kemps scored seven of her team’s last eight points; first, with a three-point play to tie the score at 47-47; then, by making two free throws to put Westfield ahead 49-47 with :30 remaining of the game. The game was capped when Kemps put in two more free throws. Kemps totaled 11 points.

The scoring was virtually even with South Brunswick leading 27-25 at the half. Both teams scored eight points in the third-quarter, bringing the score to 35-33. In the fourth-quarter South Brunswick was outscoring Westfield, 12-11, until Kemps went on her scoring spree in the final moments of the game.

Forwards Liz McKeon and Amy Williams were consistent in scoring throughout the game. McKeon, a sophomore, led the Blue Devil girls with 17 points and Williams, a senior, broke double figures with 12 points.

Senior center Nicole DeSantis had six points, junior guard Coleen Ryan contributed four points and Suzanne Vinegra scored two points for the Blue Devils.

The victory over South Brunswick at the Westfield Tournament gave Westfield the championship and upped their record to (2-1) while South Brunswick slipped to (2-2).

The Blue Devils will host the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Raiders on Saturday, January 4 at 7:00 p.m.