CENTERBURG – Centerburg girls basketball coach Bill Abner called Friday’s contest “the biggest game in their career.”
They turned it into their biggest win.
The Trojans and the Danville Blue Devils entered Friday’s showdown with one conference loss apiece; Centerburg’s had come at the hands of Danville.
This time, the Trojans jumped to a quick lead and never looked back in their 58-21 drubbing of the Devils.
Kayla Larimore outscored Danville by herself. She put up 27 points, including 13 in a first quarter that saw Centerburg take a double-digit lead it would never relinquish.
“What makes Kayla so special is that she is efficient around the basket, even in traffic,” Abner said of the junior. “She deserves this because she works at it. She’s that kid that stays after practice and works on her game.
“She spends a lot of time on it. It’s very rewarding to see that as a coach.”
Larimore’s game was complimented by Tiara Sheppard. The sophomore finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds and nine steals – one steal shy of a rare triple-double.
It was almost like every Danville player was guarded successfully by Sheppard, all at the same time.
Sheppard – who won five tournaments on a travel team during the offseason – had six steals in the first quarter alone. She tipped several other passes out of bounds.
“Tiara is the X-factor for us,” Abner said. “You can’t focus on Kayla, because Tiara will beat you. She’s athletic and she’s focused.
“She’s very instinctive. You need players that can anticipate where the passes are going.”
The Blue Devils, for their part, never got off the ground. They hustled and were quick on their feet, but they couldn’t keep up with Centerburg’s guards and weren’t able to outmuscle Centerburg’s forwards.
Kylee Hess led Danville with six points. Broegan Staats and Ella Proper each added five points.
The loss was Danville’s second in the KMAC, one loss behind Centerburg and Cardington. Both the Trojans and the Pirates are 5-1.
Centerburg’s (9-2, 5-1 KMAC) rout began following consecutive steals by Sheppard. She took the first one coast to coast herself for a score.
Sheppard dished the second steal to Evie Stowe, who passed to Larimore for a layup to make the score 11-2.
Danville’s (11-4, 6-2) subsequent timeout did not stop Centerburg’s momentum. The Trojans did all the scoring the rest of the quarter to lead 19-2 after one quarter.
The lead grew to 28-9 by halftime.
Late in the game, senior Kennedi Glenn, who had been shut out the entire game, hit three consecutive 3-pointers to finish off the Devils.
In their previous meeting, Danville defeated Centerburg in double overtime, 71-69. Since then, the Trojans refined their defensive scheme, and unveiled it in full force Friday.
The result: They allowed 50 fewer points.
Not bad for a team with just two seniors and two juniors.
“This was their biggest game of their careers,” Abner said again, “and Tuesday (hosting Mount Gilead) will become the biggest game of their careers. That’s what happens when you’re on top. I know, in this conference, anyone can beat anyone.
“We can enjoy this tonight, but tomorrow, it has to go in our rearview mirror. We haven’t hit our goals yet.”
