Staff writer
The Hope Lions proved stronger than the Centre Cougars Friday. Hope defeated Centre, 51-39.
The game started out well for the Cougars. Four 3-point shots — three by Brian Burhoop and one by Rustyn Kerbs — and field goals by Tanner Brunner and Adam Matz gave Centre a 14-11 lead after one quarter of play.
A layup by Kerbs at the beginning of the second quarter gave Centre a 5-point lead. After that, the Lions steadily gained on the Cougars, tying the game and surging ahead by 7 points, 27-20, by halftime.
Both teams scored 10 points in the third quarter. Brunner, Matz, and Kordell Harding scored field goals in the fourth quarter, but Hope outscored Centre 14-9, handing the Cougars a 12-point loss.
Brunner was the only Cougar in double figures, scoring 14 points. Burhoop scored 9 points, Kerbs and Harding 5 each, Matz 4, and Tyler Klenda 2.
The junior varsity was defeated by Hope, 60-49. Justin Deines was Centre’s high-point man, scoring 15 points.
Junior varsity tournament
The junior varsity played in a JV tournament Saturday at Wakefield. They won the tournament by defeating Wakefield, 55-28, and White City, 39-36.