WQIO Ohio's Super Station
Centerburg came into the nightcap of four games at ODU Saturday with 21 wins and confidence heading into their second straight District Final but once again the Lady Trojans fell shy of their goal by losing to Newark Catholic 40-33. For the Green Wave it’s their second straight District Championship. Kayla Larimore got things started right for Centerburg with a three before Leah Caudell scored for the Green Wave. Larimore got a bucket to push the lead to 3 before Fini Kasier got back to back scores for the Green Wave to go up 6-5 with 305 left in the quarter. The last score of the quarter came with 40 seconds left when Larimore got one to go to push the lead to 1 for Centerburg 7-6 after one.
Natalie Harrington opened the second period giving the Green Wave the lead with a score. Lauren Ellis regained the lead for Centerburg with a make but a minute and a half later Harrington scored again as Newark Catholic grabbed a 10-9 lead with 527 left in the half. After a pair of missed free throws by Caudell, Harrington got a free throws and back to back buckets to push the Green Wave lead to 15-9. Kenlee Fairall hit two free throws before Sophie Peloquin got her first points on a three for Newark Catholic to go up 7. A put back by Kaiser at the buzzer pushed the lead to 20-11 Green Wave at the half.
Centerburg got right to work to start the third quarter on back to back scores by Larimore and a bucket by Ellis but Harrington scored before Sheppard got a two to get Centerburg within three with 453 to go in the third. Ellis made it 22-20 with one free throw but Caudell got an and one and Kaiser made a free throw to go up 26-20 with 150 to go in the period. Sheppard scored for Centerburg but Avery Yehle got a score and Kaiser got one at the charity stripe to make it 29-22 Newark Catholic leading after three.
Sheppard hit a three a minute into the fourth and Kenlee Fairall made one free throw to make it 29-26 Green Wave with 656 left. Sheppard missed a pair of free throws before Newark Catholic went on an 8-3 run on back to back scores by Peloquin and Kaiser and Caudell made two free throws for the Green Wave to lead 37-27 with 7 minutes to go. Larimore would score 6 of the games next 8 points to make it 39-33 with 206 left but Centerburg wouldn’t score again in the 40-33 defeat.
Kaiser led the way with 12 points, Harrington added 11 points and Caudell scored 9 for the Green Wave.
Kayla Larimore finished her last game with 18 points for Centerburg.
NC (17-7) plays Anna (18-7) at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Springfield in a regional semifinal. Anna beat Fayetteville-Perry 50-35 on Saturday. Minster plays Arcanum in the second semifinal.
