The Centre girls basketball team punched its ticket to the Class 1A-Division I state tournament with a 37-21 victory over Wheat State league rival Goessel in the Rosalia-Flinthills sub-state finals Saturday.
The second-seeded Cougars contained the top-seeded Bluebirds with a stingy zone defense and avenged January?s 43-32 loss to the Bluebirds.
In a competitive first quarter, Goessel took an early lead out of the gate and led by as many as 8-5 after Aleena Cook scored two consecutive baskets off of turnovers. The Bluebirds led, 10-8, at the end of the first quarter.
But when Goessel shots refused to fall, Centre took advantage. Shelby Makovec scored to tie the game at 10, and Callie Riffel added a pair of free throws to put the Cougars in front. After Eden Hiebert made one of two free throws?Goessel?s only point of the quarter?Centre enjoyed a 7-0 run to lead, 19-11, at halftime.
The Bluebirds trimmed the deficit to four with a 7-3 run capped by a Page Hiebert three that brought Goessel within 22-18 at the 4:37 mark. Shelby Pankratz responded by draining a three, giving Centre a 25-18 advantage, a margin that held to the end of the third quarter.
Fourth-quarter scoring belonged to Makovec. The senior scored all 12 of Centre?s points in the period, including a string of eight at the start that put the Cougars firmly in front, 33-18, with 1:50 to play. Makayla King broke Goessel?s scoring drought with a basket with 1:37 to go, then Makovec scored Centre?s final four points on two separate trips to the free-throw line. Page Hiebert added one final free throw, brining it to the final 16-point margin.
Makovec led all scorers with 26 points for Centre, including a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line. Page Hiebert led Goessel with eight points.
Coming?Centre will advance to the Class 1A-Division I state tournament. Visit hillsborofreepress.com for an updated schedule as it becomes available.