Centre Cougars add two wins
Centre High School boys basketball team came out on top in two contests played last week on the home court.
Centre vs. Tescott
The Cougars defeated Tescott Tuesday by a score of 60-55.
After taking a 10-point lead at the end of the first quarter, 17-7, they were outscored 15 to 22 in the second quarter, holding onto a slim, three-point lead at half-time, 32-29. The third quarter ended with a five-point lead for Centre, 42-37, which they managed to maintain in the fourth quarter for the win.
The team made 18 out of 41 two-point attempts, seven out of 25 three-point attempts, and three out of six free throw attempts, for an overall shooting percentage of 37.9.
Junior Kyle Luna led scoring with 18 points, all field goals, followed by Justin Makovec with 13 including three three-pointers, and Todd Stahlecker with 10.
Individual statistics
Scoring: Luna, 18; Makovec, 13; Stahlecker, 10; Grant Garrard, 8; Carmen Mille, 6; Travis Burns, 3; Brian Klenda, 2.
Two points made/attempted: Luna, 9/13; Stahlecker, 3/5; Garrard, 3/7; Makovec, 2/6; Klenda, 1/4; Burns, 0/1; Mille, 0/5.
Three-points made/attempted: Makovec, 3/9; Mille, 2/3; Burns, 1/4; Stahlecker, 1/8, Garrard, 0/1.
Free throws made/attempted: Garrard, 2/2; Stahlecker, 1/1; Luna, 0/2; Burns, 0/1.
Fouls: Garrard and Mille, 5 each; Luna and Makovec, 2 each; Stahlecker and Klenda, 1 each.
Offensive/defensive rebounds: Luna, 3/3; Makovec, 1/2; Mille, 2/2; Stahlecker, 2/2; Derek Belton, 0/1; Klenda, 0/2; Garrard, 2/0; Darrin Hajek, 0/1.
Turnovers: Stahlecker, 4; Luna and Makovec, 2 each; Mille and Klenda, one each.
Steals: Luna, 5; Stahlecker, 4; Makovec, 3; Garrard, 2; Burns and Belton, 1 each.
Assists: Stahlecker, 6; Makovec and Burns, four each; Luna, 2.
The junior varsity boys defeated Tescott 62-54. Four Centre players were in double digits: Aaron Barney and Eric Peterson, 14 each; Justin Garrard, 12; and Jordan Nowak, 10.
After being behind one point at the end of the first quarter, the Cougars picked up the pace and outscored Tescott in the next two quarters, 22 to 15 and 18 to 8. Despite scoring 12 points compared to 20 points for Tescott in the fourth quarter, the Cougars were able to end the game on the plus side. Quarterly scores were: 10-11; 32-26, 50-34, and 62-54.
Centre vs. White City
CHS senior Grant Garrard was the star of the battle Friday against an aggressive White City team. The game was won in overtime.
Garrard scored an impressive 28 points, 10 from the field and 18 from the free-throw line. Justin Makovec contributed 11 points. Matt Lawrenz of White City scored 29 points.
Centre outscored its opponent 35-27 in the first half and held on to a 54-43 lead at the end of the third quarter. However, White City went on a run and outscored the Cougars 17 to six in the fourth quarter, to tie the game at 60 all.
The Cougars put on a strong defense in overtime play and scored 13 points compared to five points for White City, resulting in a final score of Centre 73, White City 65.
Individual scoring was as follows: Garrard, 28; Makovec, 11; Burns, 9; Luna and Stahlecker, seven each; Belton, six; and Klenda, five.
B team
The junior varsity defeated White City in a close contest, 55-52. The Cougars took an early lead, 23-7, at the end of the first quarter, and increased that lead the next two quarters, with quarterly scores of 39-16 and 48-26.
Despite the large lead, Centre almost lost the game when White City came back with a vengeance in the fourth quarter, outscoring Centre 26 to seven. However, it was not enough to defeat the Cougars, and they remained on top at the final buzzer, 55-52.
Derek Belton was high-point man with 13 points, followed by Aaron Barney with 10. Other scorers were: Justin Garrard, nine; Eric Peterson, eight; Brent Carlson, five; and Jordan Nowak, two.
The varsity now has a league record of three wins and two losses. Because of an over-all record of three wins, five losses, Centre is seeded seventh in the Eisenhower League Tournament and played second-seeded St. Xavier of Junction City Tuesday in the opening round.
