Staff writer
Both the girls’ and boys’ basketball teams at Centre Junior High School lost in the first round Thursday of the Wheat State League tournament.
The girls’ team played Little River. They fell behind, 6-13, in the first quarter, but picked up their play in the second quarter, to lead, 14-13, at halftime.
They held their own in the third quarter on a free throw by Shelby Pankratz, a field goal by Abigail Svoboda, and 8 points by Ally Basore. They trailed by 1, 25-26, at the end of the quarter.
The fourth quarter proved to be the team’s undoing. Little River piled up 15 points compared with 4 points by Centre, resulting in a 29-41 loss for the Lady Cougars.
Basore was the leading scorer, with 14 points. Other scorers were Pankratz, 9; and Carissa Shields, Kristin Vinduska, and Svoboda, 2 each.
Centre was defeated by Little River, 22-10, in a regular game played Jan. 23 at home. The team ended the season with a 5-7 record.
The junior varsity defeated Little River, 23-10. They compiled a record of 8-1.
The boys’ team played Wakefield and was defeated, 45-20.
Despite the big loss, coach Tyler Weinbrenner liked the effort the team gave.
“I was very pleased with how the boys competed to the end regardless of the score,” he said. “I think it speaks toward their character and resolve. I’ve seen both of those come a long way this season, and I’m proud of them for that.”
They ended the season with a record of 2-10.
