First championship title since 1995
Staff writer
In a 72-57 victory Saturday over Wakefield at Solomon, the Centre Cougars became the last champions in the Eisenhower League. The league is being disbanded, and Centre will be a member of the newly formed Wheat State League next season.
The victory was Centre’s first league championship since 1995, when the Cougars defeated the Hope Lions in three overtimes. The last time the Cougars were in the championship game was 1998, also against Hope.
Midway through the regular season, Wakefield was seeded first in this year’s tournament and Centre second.
Although Centre lost to Elyria Friday, 63-62, in pool play in an overtime game, the Cougars defeated White City by 30 points earlier in the week. Each team in the pool lost one game. Based on points, Centre won the chance to play in the championship game.
“I was very pleased how we responded in this game after giving away a game the night before,” coach Greg Wyatt said. “We played good defense, did a good job on the boards, had great passes for assists, and found a way to knock down shots when we were open.”
Wakefield took an early four-point lead, but soon fell behind as Tanner Brunner, Brian Burhoop, and Rustyn Kerbs all scored from 3-point range, and Trevor Troutt and Jacob Jirak added 2-point shots. Centre led, 16-7, at the end of the first quarter.
Wakefield had no chance to catch up as the Cougars continued to hit a high percentage of shots. They led, 38-19, at halftime. Centre was outscored 14-9 in the third quarter but maintained a 47-33 lead.
Free throws dominated the fourth quarter. Centre went to the line at least 15 times for 19 points. Wakefield went to the line seven times for four points.
The Cougars’ 15-point victory was the second over Wakefield this season. Centre defeated Wakefield Dec. 18 on the road.
In this contest, Burhoop led scoring with 25 points including 5-of-6 3-point shots, 8-of-12 free throws, and 1-of-5 2-point shots.
Troutt had 14 points and was the leading rebounder with 13. He also provided four assists. Brunner also scored in double digits with 10 points, four assists, and nine rebounds.
After the championship victory, the Cougars have an overall record of 7-5.
Statistics
(Wakefield 57, Centre 72)
Team: 2-point goals, 15/40; 3-point goals, 7/10; free throws, 21/40; rebounds, 45; assists, 9; steals, 14; turnovers, 17.
2-point goals: Alex Hajek 3/5, Heath Hill 1/1, Rustyn Kerbs 2/6, Adam Matz, 0/1, Tyler Klenda 1/1, Brian Burhoop 1/5, Jacob Jirak 1/2, Tanner Brunner 1/5, Trevor Troutt 5/14.
3-point goals: Kerbs 1/1, Klenda 0/2, Burhoop 6/8, Brunner 1/2.
Total points: Hajek 7, Hill 2, Kerbs 8, Klenda 4, Burhoop 25, Jirak 2, Brunner 10, Troutt 14.
Free throws: Hajek 1/2, Kerbs 1/4, Klenda 2/4, Burhoop 8/12, Jirak 0/2, Brunner 5/12, Troutt 4/4.
Assists: Hajek 1, Matz 2, Klenda 1, Burhoop 1, Brunner 4.
Rebounds: Hajek 5, Kerbs 4, Matz 1, Klenda 4, Burhoop 7, Jirak 2, Brunner 9, Troutt 13.
Centre vs. Elyria
The game Friday against Elyria had an incredible finish. Centre led 37-23 at the end of the third quarter.
Surprisingly, Elyria came back strong in the fourth quarter, scoring 28 points, including five 3-point shots, and holding Centre to 16 points. At the end of the quarter, the game was tied, 51-51, sending it into overtime.
Elyria outscored Centre 10-9 in overtime to win the game by one point.
Troutt led the Cougars with 34 points and 11 rebounds. He was 14-of-19 in 2-point shots and 6-of-9 at the free-throw line. Hajek provided four assists.
Centre vs. White City
The Cougars handily won the first game of pool play Jan. 19 by defeating White City, 54-24.
Troutt scored 21 points, and Burhoop scored 11, including three 3-point shots. Hajek, Matz, Kerbs, Jirak, Zach Antoszyk, and Burhoop provided 13 assists. Troutt had 11 rebounds.
It was no contest. The Cougars stole the ball 23 times, jumping to an 18-4 lead after one quarter. They built their lead to 30-9 at halftime, 46-20 after the third quarter, and a 30-point victory at the finish.