Centre girls eliminated from substate
Cougars end season
with 12-10 record
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
Centre High School girls' basketball team played Burrton Thursday in the semi-finals of the Goessel 1A regional tournament.
A game which at first appeared might be a blowout by the Lady Cougars turned into an intense struggle which ended in a disappointing five-point, 46-41, loss.
The game got off to a terrific start for Centre as Megan Gutsch scored a layup, then Teaira Turner stole the ball and passed it to Jackie Klenda, who nailed a three-point shot.
Gutsch added seven more points during the first quarter to lead the Lady Cougars to a 15-6 advantage. Burrton's points came on just one field goal and four free throws.
Something happened between the first and second quarters. When play resumed, the girls appeared to have lost their rhythm. They were cold offensively and defensively, scoring only one point early in the quarter on a free throw by Krista Heiser.
Burrton was deadly from the free-throw line, scoring eight unanswered points as Centre tried to stop them at the basket. The Lady Chargers scored another seven unanswered points in the last minute and a half of the quarter to lead 23-16 at halftime.
The Lady Cougars reversed themselves in the third quarter and dominated at the basket. Four players combined for 12 points while Burrton was held to seven. Centre trailed by two, 28-30, at the end of the quarter.
The Lady Chargers continued to be deadly at the free-throw line during the fourth quarter to take advantage of Centre's mistakes.
With a little more than five minutes to play, however, the girls tied the game, 34-34. A three by Selena Seifert and a two by Alyssa Luna gave the Lady Cougars a four-point lead.
Then disaster struck. The girls turned the ball over five times within the last minute of play. With two free throws and a steal for a layup, Burrton tied the game at 41-41. Another field goal, free throw, and steal for a last-second layup gave Burrton the five-point win.
Free throws made the difference in the game. Centre was 5-of-11 overall at the free-throw line compared to 26-of-36 for Burrton. The Lady Cougars shot better from the field, completing 16-of-59 attempts, including four three-pointers. Burrton completed 10-of-47, none from three-point range.
Gutsch led Centre's scoring with 14 points. She also had 15 rebounds. Klenda provided six points, three assists, and three steals.
Elyria - round one
In the first round of the tournament, played Feb. 21 on their home court, the Lady Cougars defeated Elyria Christian, 43-36.
The game started out at a ferocious pace as five three-point attempts were completed, four of them by Centre. Klenda made three and Seifert one.
After another bucket by Klenda the Lady Cougars had a comfortable 14-5 lead. However, they gave up the ball several times in the last two minutes to allow Elyria to get within three, 16-13.
Neither team did much in the second quarter as Centre managed to stay on top, 22-21, at halftime.
The game remained close in the third quarter. Centre led 29-25 at the two-minute mark, but gave up two baskets in the last 45 seconds for a 29-29 tie. A last-second basket by Ashley Griffith allowed the Lady Cougars to hold onto a tenuous two-point lead.
Good free throw shooting by Klenda allowed Centre to pull ahead in the fourth quarter, 41-36. With 10 seconds remaining, Seifert stole the ball for a runback and layup, giving the Lady Cougars a seven-point win.
Klenda outpaced all other players in scoring. She made 21 points, had five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
Luna provided seven rebounds and six steals. Seifert and Gutsch compiled six rebounds each.
Thursday's loss meant the end of the season for the Lady Cougars. Their final record was 12-10. The team is young, comprised mostly of sophomores and juniors, so they'll be back next year to try again.
