Sturdy begin sends TC to sectional title
Feb. 6—Tri-Central’s ladies basketball crew took management early and went on to beat Cowan 55-20 within the Class A Tri-Central Sectional championship Saturday night time.
The Trojans had the Blackhawks in a 15-2 gap by the shut of the primary quarter. The Trojans went on to guide 27-7 at halftime.
Tri-Central additionally had a powerful begin in opposition to Daleville within the semifinal spherical (32-8 first quarter). TC coach Mathew Corn stated the semifinal begin was keyed by 3-point taking pictures whereas the championship begin was fueled by protection.
“We sort of locked them down and allowed our offense to only execute with none stress when it comes to the rating,” Corn stated.
The Trojans avenged a 33-31 loss to the Blackhawks within the 2022 sectional ultimate.
“It is a type of video games as a coach that you simply at all times keep in mind as a result of I believed we had the higher crew. We simply shot it so unhealthy in that recreation,” Corn stated of the 2022 loss. “I went again [Saturday] morning and re-looked at that recreation. We simply did not play properly both exterior of the taking pictures. To see the identical group of youngsters on movie in the identical sort of scenario final 12 months to the group of youngsters they’re now, it’s very night time and day.
“I am thrilled with what they had been capable of accomplish and what they’re nonetheless wanting to perform.”
Tri-Central (11-13) advances to face Hoosier Heartland Convention rival Rossville (15-10) in a one-game regional Saturday at Wes-Del. The Hornets beat the Trojans 34-29 in an HHC recreation on Jan. 13.
Karley Leininger led the Trojans within the sectional ultimate with a season-high 19 factors. She scored 12 factors within the first half, hitting a pair of 3-pointers within the second quarter, to guide the early assault.
TC backed Leininger with stability. Gracie Grimes scored 9 factors, Allie Younce had eight, Autumn Damage had seven and Ariana Jankoviak had 5.
The Trojans opened the season 7-5 earlier than hitting a tough stretch. They’ve regrouped to win 4 of their final six, together with three in a row.
“Now we have six seniors this 12 months. Two years in the past, once they had been sophomores, they had been part of the sectional title crew that 12 months. It was sort of new to them. The plan this 12 months was that and extra,” Corn stated. “We have been up and down with our stage of play. We had a tough January, however then practices began getting higher and all the things began clicking somewhat bit.
“We had been nonetheless taking part in groups [from higher classifications], which may be robust since you’re not seeing outcomes. However this weekend, we had been actually on prime of our stage of play. I am happy with the youngsters.”