Cougars defeat Solomon, lose to Lebo
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
The Cougars went one-for-one this past week on the road. They squeaked by Solomon Jan. 30, 59-58, on a last-minute shot, but were squashed by Lebo, 74-55.
The boys defeated Solomon Jan. 20 by 12 points in the third-place game of the league tournament, but this encounter proved to be more formidable.
The game was close all the way with quarter scores (Centre first) of 8-8, 13-14, 21-19, and 17-17.
The Cougars trailed by one, 21-22, at halftime. Lance Diepenbrock completed three three-point shots and one field goal and Seth Jirak scored three field goals and two free throws in the third quarter which, together with a layup by Kevin Mueller, gave the Cougars a one-point lead.
Good free-throw shooting kept Solomon in the game. Both teams scored 17 points in the fourth quarter. Jirak sunk a long field goal with seconds remaining, to give Centre the win.
The team scored a total of five three-point shots, 19 two-pointers, and 6-of-13 free throws. Solomon had one three-point shot, 22 two-pointers, and 11-of-16 free throws.
Mueller scored 16 points, Jirak 14, and Diepenbrock 13. Mueller had eight rebounds and Diepenbrock provided five assists.
The junior varsity was defeated, 52-40. They led 13-9 at the end of the first quarter, with Ben Krause and Konley Harding each scoring two three-point shots.
The Gorillas outscored the Cougars 13-7 in the second quarter, to reduce the lead to one, 23-22, at halftime. That lead evaporated in the second half, and Solomon won by 12 points.
Krause and Harding scored in double digits of 15 and 14, respectively. Thomas Terrault added five points, including one three-pointer.
At Lebo
The Friday varsity game at Lebo proved to be a lot tougher. State-ranked Lebo was more than the Cougars could handle.
Centre trailed by just three points, 11-14, at the end of the first quarter after Alfonse Klenda drained a three-pointer, a two-pointer, and two free throws.
But by halftime, Lebo led 36-22. After a disastrous 13-25 third quarter, the Cougars fought back in the fourth. Threes by Zach Slayden, Bryant Brunner, and Jirak netted the Cougars 20 points compared to 13 for Lebo.
But it was too little, too late, and Centre suffered a 19-point loss.
Centre completed seven three-pointers compared to three by Lebo. But Lebo had 25 two-pointers compared to 10 by Centre. Centre was 14-of-21 at the free-throw line compared to 9-of-14 by Lebo.
Diepenbrock led at the boards with eight rebounds, followed by Mueller with six. Diepenbrock, Thieen Antoszyk, and Mueller provided three assists each. James Weber took a charge.
The team's record now stands at 6-10.
The junior varsity had a much easier time. They defeated Lebo, 62-37. They led 34-26 at halftime and surged ahead in the second half to win by 25 points. Ben Krause scored a whopping 25 points. Terreault added 15 and Harding 12.
Centre hosted Solomon Tuesday at home.
