The Centerburg Trojans delivered a commanding performance on December 10, cruising to a 45-7 victory over Mt. Gilead in a girls basketball game that was never in doubt.
The Trojans’ defense was the story of the game, as they stifled Mt. Gilead’s offense from the opening tip. Centerburg jumped out to a 30-0 lead before Mt. Gilead managed to score their first basket late in the second quarter.
Top performers for Centerburg included Tiara Sheppard, who led the team with 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals. Kayla Larimore added 14 points, while Kenlee Fairall contributed 5 points, 5 rebounds, 6 steals, and 3 assists. Lauren Ellis was a defensive force, recording 5 steals and 4 blocks, and Evie Stowe added 4 steals, 4 assists, and 4 rebounds.
“We were definitely fired up to play this game,” said Centerburg head coach Bill Abner. “The last time we played Mt. Gilead at home they beat us 34-27, so the girls were ready for this one. Both teams were undefeated, so we knew it was a big game.”
Centerburg’s defense overwhelmed Mt. Gilead, forcing 36 turnovers while committing just 9. The Trojans’ aggressive play kept the Indians out of rhythm, preventing them from finding any offensive flow.
“Mt. Gilead is a well-coached team, and their pack-line man defense is tough to score on,” Abner said. “They do a fantastic job taking away the paint, so we knew we needed to hit some shots to loosen them up. We didn’t play our best offensively, and that’s partly on us and partly on their defense. We were just 4-of-11 from the free-throw line and 3-of-17 from three-point range. We have to get better in those areas.”
Despite the tough loss, Mt. Gilead struggled offensively throughout, unable to get into a rhythm due to Centerburg’s suffocating defense.
“The story of the game was our defense,” Abner continued. “The kids are executing our scheme at a very high level right now. When they bring good energy and feed off one another, we can be a pretty good team. We really forced them to run offense near half court, and that kept them out of rhythm all night.”
While pleased with the win, Abner emphasized the need for his team to stay focused and take each game one at a time as they move forward.
“This was a good win for us, but we need to stay locked in and keep improving,” he said.
The Trojans’ defense and overall team play were the difference as they improved their record to 6-0, while Mt. Gilead looks to regroup after the tough loss.
