Mount Vernon News

CENTERBURG — The Centerburg High School girls basketball team’s seniors were honored prior to Thursday’s ball game with Danville, then proceeded to lead the team to a 47-45 win over the Blue Devils in overtime. The win came in a contest in which neither team was able to shoot effectively, and it came down to who could make plays when they mattered the most.

Part of it was also the tough defense of Centerburg (12-8, 6-8 Mid-Buckeye Conference), as it forced Danville (5-14, 4-10 MBC) into some less than ideal shooting situations.

“I really though our defense was big difference for us tonight,” said Centerburg head coach Dan Stevens. “I thought the girls really bought into the team defense philosophy tonight. We also rebounded the ball pretty well tonight.”

Centerburg got off to a quick start, led by three straight baskets by Alisha Stevens to take an 8-2 lead midway through the opening quarter. A 3-point basket by Hannah Matheny helped to bring Danville back, however, and the Blue Devils were down just one, 12-11, by the end of one period.

Tracy Payne had seven points in the second quarter as Danville looked to get itself back into the ball game. They were offset by six points from Jenna Ross as Centerburg opened as much as a seven-point lead in the quarter. Payne’s 3-pointer at the end of the half pulled the Blue Devils within 23-19 at the break.

The third quarter proved to be slow for each squad. Ross had four more for the Trojans, who elected to slow the pace for the latter part of the quarter. A pair of 3-pointers kept Danville in the game, and pulled it within two heading into the final quarter.

A three-point play from Payne opened the scoring in the fourth quarter, giving Danville its first lead of the game, 30-29. A 3-pointer from Kaleigh Connor extended the lead to 35-31 with 6:35 left in the game.

From there, the Trojans took their game inside, as Alisha Stevens and Ross scored all but two of Centerburg’s remaining points. Four straight points from Ross gave Centerburg a 40-37 lead. Danville fought back, and hit three free throws down the stretch, and the game was tied at 42 and sent to overtime.

A basket from Emma Hord put Centerburg on the board to open the extra period. Alisha Stevens added a pair of free throws to give the Trojans a 46-42 lead. Payne hit a basket that pulled the Blue Devils within two, then was later sent to the line with a chance to tie the game.

After having made her first seven for the evening, she missed both, then went 1-of-2 in the same situation moments later, and the Trojans held on for the two-point victory.

The loss hardly falls on Payne’s shoulder, as she had 23 points and four steals on the night. The Blue Devils struggled to overcome a night in which they shot 14-of-49 (29 percent) from the field.

“We never did shoot the ball well tonight,” said Danville head coach Scott Ewing. “I don’t know if it was the delay before the game, or what. We were just rusty all night, and never broke out of it.”

It was the seniors who really made the difference for Centerburg, though, led by Ross and Stevens. Ross had 20 points and 10 rebounds on the night. Stevens pitched in 12 points and nine rebounds, as well as a pair of steals.

“Our seniors really wanted to win this game tonight,” said coach Stevens. “They played hard, and really dug deep to pull this out. I’m really proud of them, and the whole team. It’s nice to have a win headed into the tournament.”

Danville will have one more chance to get that momentum, as it plays against Crestview on Saturday.

“We have one more game to build on, then it’s up against Gilead Christian,” said Ewing. “I certainly can’t complain about the girls’ effort. Their defense has really been coming along, and they’re playing hard. We just had a few mistakes.”