Warrior girls falter in quarterfinal loss

By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register

The postseason run by the Central girls basketball team came to an end Feb. 13, in a quarterfinal loss against Kee.

The Hawks took control early, getting out to a 6-0 lead before the Warriors responded with a transition basket. Central was unable to slow down the Hawks’ scoring output, though, as the lead extended to eight points at the end of the first quarter. 

The second quarter was more of the same, with the Warriors failing to shut down Kee’s ability to get into the lane for easy buckets or their ability to get good looks from the three-point line. Central was down 35-18 at halftime. 

The Central defense showed up in the second half, limiting the Hawks to fewer than 10 points in the third and fourth quarters, but the offense, which shot just 25.6 percent from the field, didn’t shoot well enough to chip away at the lead. This allowed the Hawks to rest on the lead established in the first half and earn a 51-34 win over the Warriors. 

“Kee High’s ability to find the third best player on the offensive end for 21 points. That truly was the difference in the game. We didn’t score at a high enough rate to get ourselves back in the game in the second half,” coach Mark Wiley commented. 

Warrior highlights included the defensive performances put on by Grace Kuehl, Brylee Erickson and Gracie Cummer, who combined for three steals and seven defensive rebounds. Kuehl also led the Warriors with four assists and 12 points. Ashlyn Scherf finished with nine points, eight rebounds and two steals, while Brylee Erickson added six points. Three players—Katie Royer, Oakley Armstrong and Brooklyn Amsden—each scored two points. 

The Warriors ended their season with a 15-7 record overall, while going 13-3 in Upper Iowa Conference play.

Beyond the record, Central got better as the season went along, playing their best basketball after winter break. It’s long been a goal of Wiley’s, and along the way, the Warriors found an identity on defense which helped carry the team as the offense struggled with consistency. Those inconsistencies can be placed on the small size and the makeup of the team, which included five underclassmen. 

“We had some very good support from freshmen and sophomore players as well. We grew as a team offensively, but had some inconsistencies from night to night. This was often due to our lack of experience as a team, not our will or desire to win,” Wiley explained. 

The Warriors achieved another goal of Wiley’s: growing cohesively as a team with different players stepping up in key moments. They also improved from start to finish of the season, which was demonstrated in defeating every conference opponent after winter break, including North Fayette Valley and MFL MarMac on the road.  

“With the smaller numbers this season, I was happy with our leadership and accountability at the varsity level. We did a good job of staying healthy as a team and finding a way to be competitive each night we stepped on the court,” Wiley said. 

The small numbers could continue next season, with the graduation of five seniors, including Gracie Cummer, Ashlyn Scherf, Grace Kuehl, Brooklyn Amsden and Makayla Erickson. 

Scherf led the team in points with 323 and Kuehl was third. The duo also led the team in steals. Scherf, Kuehl and Cummer were top three in rebounds and blocks too. Along with Amsden and Erickson’s 68 rebounds, 19 assists, 24 steals and 91 points, the Warriors will miss some key components heading into next season. 

Wiley will focus on that when it arrives. For now, it is about celebrating this team and these players.

“I’m proud of their commitment during the season to be part of something bigger than themselves. They showed good leadership on the court, and helped our younger players grow as part of our team. They are good individuals that will be missed for their contributions not just on the basketball court, but their representation of Central in all the different things they are involved with,” he said.