UTICA- Shelby-Rising City high school split a doubleheader Tuesday night with Centennial. The Centennial Bronco girls won 50-27, and the SRC boys won 53-51. The Centennial Broncos boys basketball team looked like a different team the second half, after trailing at the half 27-17.
In a game that saw 20 three-pointers between the two squads, this game had the feel of a playoff game as 10-2 Centennial hosted 8-2 SRC. The Broncos knew that SRC senior Jett Pineo would be the one to watch so they kept him at bay all night, only allowing him four points total in the game. What they didn’t expect was three-point barrage the Huskies would bring to open up the first half.
Senior Bailey Belt lit up for three from beyond the arc in the first half, and teammate Colin Wingard would add two himself. That was just the beginning. Centennial hard a hard time getting baskets to fall in the first half, and made several turnovers allowing the Huskies more scoring opportunities. SRC lead at the half 27-17.
The second half of the game was more like a chess match than a basketball game with each team answering the other from downtown. The Broncos came out in the third fired up and scored 18 points in the quarter to SRC’s nine to move within one point. The Bronco offensive surge was due in large part to senior Caleb Horne who found a zone from beyond the arc and ended the night with six 3-pointers, and 26 points overall in the loss.
Belt knocked in another three 3 pointers also, to keep SRC in the game. He ended the game with 22 points. The fourth quarter saw Centennial take the lead briefly before SRC’s hot shooting started again and proved to be too much for the Broncos winning in the final minute of the game 53-51.
The girls game was dominated by the Broncos as Kierra Green knocked in three first-half 3-pointers on her way to 13 points. She led all scorers. Teammate Kate Hirschfeld also poured in 12 in the 50-27 win. SRC seemed over matched in the contest but provided signs of strong defense at times.
Alley Neujakr, and Kamryn Pokorney each led the team with eight points in the loss.
Both teams play at home on Friday as SRC will host Hampton, Centennial will play Columbus Lakeview.
