Top-ranked Lebo too much for CHS
The team defeats St. John's Military
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
The Wolves had it over the Cougars Friday, as Lebo defeated Centre at home, 85-60.
Lebo currently is ranked first in the state in IA by The Wichita Eagle.
The Wolves opened the game with five unanswered shots before Dustin Burnett made a bucket. After a basket by Tad Remy and three-pointers by Alfonse Klenda and Seth Jirak, the Cougars had closed the gap to three points. The first quarter ended with Centre down by four points, 17-13.
The Cougars dug the hole much deeper in the second quarter. They were turned away from the goal again and again while at their end, the Wolves scored more than ever. Centre made just 10 points compared to 23 by Lebo to trail 40-23 at halftime.
Lebo outscored the Cougars 24-13 in the third quarter. Centre answered with a 24-21 comeback in the fourth but fell short by 25 points.
The Cougars shot 30.1 percent from the field, making 22-of-73 attempts, including 5-of-16 from three-point range.
Lebo's A. Laflin scored 30 points. Burnett led Centre's scoring with 15 points. No other Centre player scored in double digits.
Burnett also led in rebounds with nine, including seven at the offensive end. He provided four assists.
The junior varsity was defeated, 59-40. The Cougars were outscored right from the beginning. Jim Weber scored all of Centre's five points in the first quarter. The team added eight in the second but trailed 32-13 at halftime.
After an 18-10 scoring disadvantage in the third quarter, the Cougars outscored Lebo 17-9 in the fourth, but it was too little too late.
The Cougars completed four three-point shots compared to one by Lebo. But Lebo made 24 two-point shots compared to eight by Centre.
Lebo had another Laflin player who scored 29 points. Ben Krause was Centre's leading scorer with 11 points, followed by Weber with eight.
Centre vs. St. John's Military
The Cougars defeated St. John's Military Academy, Salina, Jan. 31, by a score of 63-57.
After Centre led 11-6 at the end of the first quarter, the Muleskinners came back to tie the game at 24-all at the break.
A good 20-point third quarter compared to eight by St. John's gave Centre a 12-point lead. The Cougars were outscored 25-19 in the final quarter but were able to walk away with a six-point victory.
Burnett led scoring with 15 points, followed by Bryant Gutsch with 12.
It was Centre's fourth win of the season overall.
