The Centerburg Trojans secured a significant 60-39 victory over the Utica Redskins on Tuesday, January 13. The win was marked by an outstanding performance from Kayla Larimore, who scored 31 points and collected eight rebounds, despite the game's physical nature.
According to Head Coach Bill Abner, Larimore demonstrated exceptional efficiency, shooting 9-of-10 from the free-throw line and achieving her fourth consecutive game with 30 or more points. "She’s such a consistent player," Abner said. "You look up and you’re like, ‘Wow, she has 31,’ and she does it quietly at times. You can’t take a kid like that for granted because they don’t come around too often."
Tiara Sheppard also played a crucial role in the Trojans' success, contributing 18 points and five steals. Her defensive efforts were instrumental in controlling the game's tempo early on. Abner noted Sheppard's impact: "Tiara was huge; she was a big reason we got off to such a good start," he said. "She’s really picked it up the last two weeks. She’s added a nice outside shot to her game, and it’s paid off."
Kenlee Fairall returned to full health after recent illness, adding eight points, seven steals, and three assists. Her defensive pressure alongside Evie Stowe's six assists significantly disrupted Utica's offensive flow. "Kenlee’s a game changer defensively," Abner said. "Her motor just doesn’t stop, and her pressure along with Evie’s really altered the game a lot."
The Trojans maintained offensive efficiency by shooting 4-of-12 from three-point range and 9-of-10 from the free-throw line. Their balanced offense combined with strong defense enabled them to extend their lead in the second half.
Abner emphasized his team's adherence to key principles that have driven their success throughout the season: "We talk about winning numbers all the time," he explained. "We want to force 25 turnovers, commit 12 or less, have an effective field-goal percentage of 50%, a points per possession number close to 1.0, and make more free throws than our opponent. We did all of those things tonight."
With this victory, Centerburg improves to a record of 10-4 in the Licking County League standings. The team's defense paired with Larimore's offensive prowess laid the groundwork for their triumph.
"It’s a huge road win for us," Abner said regarding their victory over Utica. "Utica is a very good team with a lot of experience and very talented kids. Our girls were fired up for this one. We knew it was going to be a physical game, and we’re okay with that style of play."
As Centerburg looks forward to the remainder of the season, they aim to maintain their strong performance while refining their strategies as they compete for top position in their league.
