Westminster Academy’s Claire Erickson is Broward girls’ basketball 4A-2A player of the year

For five consecutive seasons, Claire Erickson felt the sting of defeat. She and the Westminster Academy girls’ basketball team ran all the way to the regional finals each year only to face the same demise: A road loss to powerhouse Miami Country Day.

Not this year. Not her senior year.

Erickson, Westminster Academy’s lone senior and the Miami Herald’s Class 4A-2A Broward Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year, led the Lions to an upset win over Miami Country Day to punch their ticket to Lakeland and continued to be a guiding force en route the school’s first girls’ basketball state championship in 31 years.

“That was the most special thing,” Erickson said. “Couldn’t imagine a better ending.”

Westminster Academy coach Shannon Wallhoff doesn’t want to imagine what she’s going to do without Erickson next year.

As the senior point guard on a team with four freshmen, one sophomore and two juniors, the offense ran through Erickson. She set the team up on almost every possession at halfcourt, spreading the wealth to her teammates and getting them in position to succeed.

She was also pretty good scoring herself. Erickson averaged 14.2 points to go along with her 4.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.4 steals per game. She also was on the floor for every minute of the Lions’ 32 games this season. She scored 22 points in Westminster Academy’s Class 3A state semifinal win over Tallahassee FSU High and had eight points, six assists and four rebounds in the championship game against Sarasota Cardinal Mooney.

“I wouldn’t want any other point guard ever,” Wallhoff said.

While Erickson always had confidence in her on-court talent, she had to learn this season what it meant to be a leader. As the only senior on Westminster Academy’s roster, she knew her teammates were going to rely on her. An adjustment period ensued.

“In the beginning, it was a little different for me not having seniors above me to help me,” said Erickson, who started playing basketball when she was 4. “But it was good for me to show them what we need to do to win.”

It worked out.

Now, Erickson prepares for her next steps. She’s still not committed to a college but plans to continue playing basketball.

“Basketball means everything to me,” Erickson said. “It’s just a way to get away from anything. It shows that if you work hard, it can open doors.”

This story was originally published April 6, 2022 at 11:30 AM.

Jordan McPherson

Miami Herald

305-376-2129

Jordan McPherson covers the Miami Hurricanes and Florida Panthers for the Miami Herald. He attended the University of Florida and covered the Gators athletic program for five years before joining the Herald staff in December 2017.