Mount Vernon News

Trojans shoot past Blue Devils

CENTERBURG — A strong start leads to a victorious finish for the Centerburg High School girls basketball team at home on Thursday night. The Trojans took on the Danville Blue Devils, winning, 67-36, in Mid-Buckeye Conference play.

“We asked them to bring their ‘A’ game and they did that,” said Centerburg head coach Dan Stevens. “I was just very, very pleased with the team effort.”

The Trojans (9-9, 6-8 MBC) found their shooting rhythm early in the first quarter. Sophomore Camaranne Myles drained back-to-back 3-pointers in the first two minutes of the game for a 6-2 lead, and junior Jenna Ross created her own opportunities to score. She grabbed an offensive rebound and took it right back to the basket and also hit two jumpers during the first eight minutes of the game. Junior Alisha Stevens nailed a 3-pointer, Laura Mackley went 1-of-2 from the line and with just seconds left, Emma Hord tacked on another three points to take Centerburg to a 10-point lead, 19-9.

“It was very refreshing to see them play good solid defense,” coach Stevens said. “Shots were falling, our defense was working and we just got out to such a good start.”

The Trojans’ defense went into action in the second quarter, not allowing a single point by the Blue Devils (9-11, 4-10 MBC). Danville attempted three free throws by Tracy Payne, but came up short. Centerburg’s offense rolled on to score 20 more points before halftime and, after two quarters, Centerburg led 39-9.

“We all played with our hearts and played hard all four quarters,” said Ross. “We just kept feeding off of each other. We each had our moments and we kept feeding off of those.”

Danville came out in the third quarter with more intensity, but the Trojan had already done too much damage in the first half. Centerburg continued to score in the second half, but the Blue Devils fought hard to stay in the game. At the end of the third, both teams had scored 12 points each pushing the score, 51-12.

The Blue Devils scored the most points in the fourth quarter, 15. Katie Payne hit two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and went 2-of-2 from the free-throw line. She led Danville with 16 points. Tracy Payne ended with eight and Kristin Miller chipped in with six points.

Centerburg finished the fourth quarter by scoring 16 more and winning by 31 points. Four of the Trojan players finished with double-doubles.

“This is the second win in a row,” Ross said. “We really played well tonight and we played together and that’s what we need right before tournament time.”

Ross led with 22 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Mackley put up 15 points and led in rebounds with 12. Hord chipped in with 12 points and 11 assists, and Stevens grabbed 10 rebounds and scored 10 points.

The Centerburg junior varsity team produced a win in a close game with Danville, 38-35. Staci Park led the Trojans with 11 points, Michelle Crego chipped in with eight and Megan Hartley finished with seven points. For the Blue Devils, Jennifer Mickley put up nine points and teammates Sara Butler and Kelby Hammond each contributed with seven.