Central girls basketball putting it all together as playoffs approach

By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register

It was rematch week for the Central girls basketball team, as they looked to exact some revenge for earlier losses and gain a foothold near the top of the Upper Iowa Conference. 

The first rematch game came against 13-5 North Fayette Valley, a team that beat the Warriors just two weeks ago. This time, though, Central wasn’t coming off a 10-day stretch of no games due to cancellations, and was on a three-game winning streak. 

The Warriors limited the TigerHawks to fewer than 10 points in three of four periods and staved off a mini third period comeback to take the 53-35 victory. 

Delaney and Ashlyn Scherf led the way offensively, both scoring 11 points, followed by Hannah Asche and Grace Kuehl with nine. Haley Frieden finished with six points and Gracie Cummer added five. 

The Warriors shot well, going 20-41 from the field and 5-11 on three-point shots. They also finished at 72.7 percent on free throws, showing marked improvement in that area down the stretch. 

The offense had seven assists, with three coming from Kuehl and D. Scherf with two. 

The defense collected 22 rebounds, nine steals and one block, while forcing 20 turnovers. Frieden had four of those steals, while A. Scherf had two. Kuehl finished with the lone block. 

“We stepped up our defensive efforts and set the tone of the game on the defensive end. We also showed more patience in the offensive end with their various junk defenses (Triangle & 2, Box & 1). We didn’t rush a shot early in the possession like the first meeting, which led to us being on the offensive end a majority of the time and NFV on defense. It was completely the opposite story the first time we met,” explained coach Mark Wiley. 

The second rematch game came against the 15-4 conference leading 15-4 MFL MarMac Bulldogs, who defeated the Warriors by four points in December. Central started strong and finished the first three periods with the lead, but faltered down the stretch, losing 52-49.

Statistically, it was a close game, but according to Wiley, MFL MarMac was able to secure offensive rebounds down the stretch, finishing with 13 versus just five for the Warriors. The Warriors were also unable to convert in crucial situations near the end of the game. 

Central shot 34.1 percent from the field and 31.6 percent on three pointers, as Kuehl led the team with 18 points, followed by D. Scherf with 12 and Frieden with eight. 

The offense did have 13 assists, spreading the ball around well. D. Scherf  finished with five, Frieden with three and Kuehl added two. 

Defensively, the Warriors had eight steals, with four from D. Scherf, and two from A. Scherf and Kuehl. Frieden and Cummer each tallied blocks, while two came from Carly Kluesner. 

“We led most of the game, but we didn’t convert around the rim at crucial times in the game, and MFL MarMac hit some key shots in the fourth quarter. We had chances of tying or taking the lead back, but offensive rebounds by MFL  MarMac hurt our chances of securing the road win,” Wiley said. “Ashlyn Scherf didn’t get her usual shots. They defended the post entry well and…did a nice job of defending our screen and roll option, not allowing her to catch the basketball in the lane.”

The final game of the week was not a rematch, but the Warriors did have to dig themselves out of an early hole, as they went down 17-5 after the first period against Edgewood-Colesburg. The Warriors were within one point by halftime, and, at the end of the third period, they’d found their stride, completing the comeback and securing a 53-37 victory. 

While the shooting percentage was low, at 36.2 percent, Central put up a stunning 58 shots to the Vikings’ 38 and made 40 percent of three-point attempts. 

Three players finished in double digits, including Frieden who led the team with 18, followed by A. Scherf with 11 and D. Scherf with 10. 

The offense also had 13 assists, with A. Scherf coming up with four. D. Scherf had three and Frieden and Kuehl each tallied two. 

On defense, the Warriors finished the game with 17 steals, led by A. Scherf with six and Kuehl with four. The two blocks came from Frieden. 

“Ed-Co came out with great intensity and set the tone on the defensive end. We had shot opportunities in the first quarter, just didn’t get shots to fall,” Wiley said. “They got out to such a strong start because we didn’t transition defensively well in the first six minutes.”

According to Wiley, Central increased ball pressure on the Ed-Co guards, forcing 18 turnovers in the final three quarters, and scored 28 points off those turnovers. 

“The team did not panic after the tough start, clawed their way back into the game and, in the third quarter, took command of the game on both ends of the court. This showed good maturity from our team,” Wiley added. 

The Warriors have just one regular season game left before the playoffs start, but it comes against the 7-13 Kee Hawks and, according to Wiley, “the best basketball player in the Upper Iowa Conference, Reagen Muddermann.” 

While there is temptation to look ahead to the playoffs, the Warriors will need to remain focused so they can head into the playoffs with momentum. The game against the Hawks was Feb. 7. 

The Warriors will begin their playoff run at home on Thursday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m., versus the 7-14 Tripoli Panthers. 

“We look forward to an exciting postseason with a lot of Central fans in support,” Wiley said.