Staff writer
A scene becoming dishearteningly common for the Centre Cougars played out again Friday as they were defeated by Little River at home 58-40.
Centre trailed 7-4 when Little River went on a 12-point run to lead 19-6 at the end of the first quarter. Dylan Deines, Justin Bina, and Cody Svoboda made Centre’s first-quarter points.
Cole Srajer and Jared Barney contributed points in the second quarter, and Centre trailed 33-16 at halftime.
The Cougars staged a comeback of sorts in the third quarter, outscoring Little River 12-7. Deines scored 7 points, Svoboda and Barney added 2 each, and Dakota Stimpson made a free throw.
Centre got within 10 points, 38-28, late in the quarter, but Little River proved unstoppable in the final period. They led by 22 points late in the quarter when Srajer and Brendon Bina each made two free throws, but the Cougars walked away with an 18-point loss.
Deines led Centre’s scoring with 16 points, followed by Srajer and Brendon Bina with 6 points each.