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Centre teams score homecoming victories

By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Homecoming fans of Centre High School had something to cheer about Friday as its basketball teams defeated neighboring Herington in several exciting displays of persistence and athletic prowess.

The girls' varsity won by a score of 72-60. The five starters played an aggressive game offensively and defensively.

After an opening goal by Herington, Selena Seifert quickly sunk a three-point shot, and Alyssa Luna followed with another field goal, to give Centre a 5-2 lead.

The Lady Cougars continued to build their lead as the game progressed, with six players contributing points in the second quarter. They had a 38-28 advantage at halftime.

Herington scored just two points less than Centre in the second half after a last-second three-pointer, but the Lady Cougars walked away with a satisfying 12-point win.

Centre completed 28-of-64 shots from the field including six three-pointers. Herington was 37-of-58 including four three-pointers. Both teams made 10 free throws.

Centre stole the ball 23 times compared to 12 steals by Herington.

Teaira Turner had an outstanding game, scoring 19 points, providing 10 assists, and stealing the ball eight times. She shot 60 percent from the floor and was 5-of-5 at the free-throw line.

Three others scored in double digits: Luna, 14; Seifert, 13; and Jackie Klenda, 11. Luna led at the boards with nine rebounds.

The girls entered the league tournament Tuesday with seven wins and three losses overall.

The junior varsity defeated Herington, 35-22. Leann Pankratz was leading scoring with 16 points.

Boys' varsity

The boys' varsity contest was intense, as Herington led most of the game until about the last two minutes.

After an opening basket by Thieen Antoszyk, Herington went on a nine-point run to lead 9-2.

But the Cougars came back with an eight-point run to take a 10-9 brief lead.

Herington was up 17-10 when Dustin Burnett made a basket on a steal and completed a free throw to make the score 17-13 at the end of the first quarter.

Although trailing, the Cougars continued to nip at the Railers' heels and were down by three points, 27-30, at halftime.

Centre gained a point in a low-scoring third quarter to trail by two, 34-36, as Herington's shooting faltered.

Free throws made the difference in the end. About six minutes into the fourth quarter, the Cougars went ahead by one on two free throws by Antoszyk.

Free throws by Bryant Gutsch, Alfonse Klenda, and Burnett in the final minutes of the game gave the Cougars a hard-earned 50-45 win.

Herington made four three-pointers for the game compared to one by Centre, but Centre completed 17 two-point goals compared to 12 by Herington. Centre made 13 free throws and Herington nine.

Burnett led scoring with 15 points, followed by Gutsch with 12 and Klenda with 10. Tad Remy scored just seven points but shot 100 percent from the field and from the free-throw line.

Klenda grabbed seven rebounds and Burnett, Antozsyk, Kevin Mueller, and Remy provided a total of four blocks.

The junior varsity defeated Herington, 46-41. James Weber led scoring with 16 points.

The Cougars entered the league tournament Monday with three wins and six losses. They played the first round at Hope against Wakefield and were defeated, 65-44.

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