Centre girls struggle against 3A SES
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
Centre High School girls' varsity basketball team was outmatched when they came up against 3A Southeast of Saline Friday in the opening home game of the season.
They gave it their best shot but were defeated, 63-44.
The Cougars showed promise in the first quarter when they came back from a 2-10 deficit to trail by one, 11-12, at the end of the quarter.
They led briefly at the beginning of the second quarter after Selena Seifert made a basket, but from then on the game belonged to SES.
The Lady Cougars didn't stand a chance against the Trojans as sophomore Shayla Seim hit four from the three-point line. Teaira Turner hit a three for Centre at the buzzer, and SES had a 36-19 lead at halftime.
Second half action began with another three-point shot by SES. Centre scored the next six points as Seifert laid it up for two, then stole the ball and passed it to Turner for another two, and Alyssa Luna put one in.
But SES steadily gained on the Cougars, scoring 20 points to Centre's six during the remainder of the third quarter. SES led 59-31.
The Cougars battled back in the fourth quarter and outscored SES 13-4, but the outcome remained unchanged, and they suffered a 19-point loss.
Centre shot 24 percent from the field and 60 percent from the free-throw line compared to 37 percent and 44 percent by SES. SES was 7-of-14 at three-point range, and Centre was 2-of-12.
The Lady Cougars out-rebounded the Trojans 51-39 and blocked 11 shots compared to five by SES.
Seifert led Centre's scoring with 12 points, followed by Jackie Klenda with nine. Krista Heiser compiled 10 rebounds. Luna had eight rebounds and six steals. Jenna Beneke contributed four blocked shots, and Turner provided four assists.
The girls began pre-season tournament play Tuesday against Herington.
