Faith Christian earns first-ever playoff win, defeats Central Catholic 44-38

Faith Christian pulled out a 44-38 win over Central Catholic in a Class 1A sectional first-round game, earning the program’s first-ever playoff victory against the Knights and advancing with a 13-8 record. Central Catholic fell to 9-15 and was knocked out in the opening round.

Central Catholic led 22-21 at halftime, but Faith Christian tightened its grip on the game in the second half by disrupting the Knights’ perimeter rhythm. Faith Christian, led by Gracyn Musick, Johanna Haste, and Stillings, slowed Central Catholic’s offense. Central Catholic shot 34% overall and was 25% from 3-point range on the night, and the Knights went 1 of 9 from beyond the arc in the second half.

Senior Johanna Haste carried Faith Christian on both ends, finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Gracyn Musick added 10 points and nine rebounds, while senior Sophie McCain provided the late lift. Casey Schuessler led Central Catholic with 17 points, and her sister Kylie Schuessler scored 13 and grabbed 11 rebounds. Central Catholic outrebounded Faith Christian 39-32, but the rebounding advantage could not overcome the Eagles’ timely plays.

“A trap attempted by Central Catholic turned into an opening for Stillings, who weaved her way through traffic, dribbled to the left block, and fed senior Sophie McCain for the layup with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter,” a play that proved pivotal. McCain’s basket gave Faith Christian the cushion it needed to oust Central Catholic 44-38 and earn the program’s first playoff victory against the Knights. Central Catholic struggled to hit shots in the final three minutes as Faith Christian closed out possession and free-throw opportunities to preserve the lead.

Faith Christian’s win was also shaped by discipline on defense and late-game execution. Haste emphasized the team’s culture when reflecting on the victory: “We just stick together as a team. We put God at the center, and we get our strength from him throughout the game.”

For Central Catholic, the loss capped a difficult season. Coach Craig DeVault described the effort and the season’s sting: “We executed our game plan really well. We wanted to contain Haste and Musick. I know Haste played a really good first half. But I think what hurt us the most was that we couldn't score the basketball. We had so many shots inside the paint. We just couldn't connect.” The Knights finished with their first losing season under DeVault and their first losing mark since the 2011-12 team that went 6-19 under Pat Tharp yet still won a sectional title.

Faith Christian now shifts focus to a matchup with Riverton Parke on Friday at 6:30 p.m., a next test against a 13-9 squad. The win is a tangible milestone for the Eagles’ program and a sign of growth as Faith Christian prepares for a deeper playoff run.