Lady Blue Devils dominate Shekinah Christian in first-round playoff win
The Danville girls’ basketball team was still coming off a huge victory over Cardington-Lincoln (and a tune-up blowout win) and rode the momentum into the Division 4 sectional playoffs, with the Blue Devils cruising to a 56-15 victory in the first round over Shekinah Christian on Feb. 16.
Danville was red hot from the beginning, going up 20-4 after a quarter and continuing the offense firepower into the second quarter to lead 43-13 at the half. Brooklynn Hess was the star of the game with 13 points in the first half, highlighted by three from downtown. Following the first, the game was not in doubt, and Danville followed with a 23-9 second, with seven points apiece from Kylee Hess, Brooklynn Hess and Ella Proper.
The Blue Devil defense kicked into high gear in the second half. The third quarter was all Danville, 11-2, and then with subs and a running clock, the Blue Devils scored only two points, but held the Shekinah Christian squad scoreless in the final frame.
Brooklynn Hess had 17 total points to lead all scorers. Proper followed up her strong week of performances with assertive offense, scoring 16 points in the win, and Kylee Hess fnished with nine.
Danville improved to 15-5 overall and 9-2 in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference and moved on to round two in the tournament.
Prior to that playoff, Danville had a final tune-up with a 57-33 road win at Highland on Feb. 14.
Danville went up big early with a 17-7 lead after one, highlighted by five points by Brooklynn Hess. The strong offensive play by the Blue Devils continued in the second quarter with a 16-point showing, but Highland’s offense turned a corner with 19 points, highlighted by Abby Jordan’s nine points.
While Highland went into the second half with momentum despite trailing 33-26, Danville’s defense turned it up a notch and allowed only seven points the rest of the way, including only two points in the third quarter and five points to close the game out strong.
Brooklynn Hess and Proper each had 12 points to lead the Blue Devils, while Jordan put up 11 points for Highland.
Fairbanks knocks off Centerburg 47-32
Centerburg’s rough season continued on Feb. 16 when a tough Fairbanks squad came to town for a non-conference matchup, with the Trojans dropping to 3-19 on the season with a 47-32 loss.
Fairbanks led from the start with an 11-5 showing in the first quarter. Clara Johnson had four points in the quarter for the Centerburg squad. Fairbanks then outscored Centerburg 19-8 to go up 30-13 at the half, clearly taking control of the game. Centerburg outscored Fairbanks 19-17 the rest of the way but it was too big of a hole for the Trojans to come back from.
Chloe Goulter led the Trojans with seven points, and both Johnson and Kennedi Glenn had six points in the loss.
This was a non-conference game, so it does not affect the standings, but Centerburg finished with an 0-12 record in the KMAC.
