|
|
|
|
|
|
Friday, May 18, 2012
Covering Dallas, Monmouth, Independence, Falls City and surrounding areas since 1868
From left, Central’s Catherine Cutsforth, Mo Tapasa, Ryanne Huffman, Brooke Lloyd and Aubree Lewis enter the court after a timeout in Thursday’s 50-49 win at Stayton.
February 22, 2012
WEDNESDAY UPDATE: CENTRAL 32, NEWPORT 31
The Central girls defeated Newport in Tuesday's Oregon West Conference finale to lock up third place and will take the No. 3 seed into Friday's 7 p.m. Class 4A play-in contest at Cottage Grove, the Sky-Em League's No. 2 seed. Game time is set for 7 p.m. The winner will advance to the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs on March 2.
INDEPENDENCE -- Combing through this season's box scores for the Central girls basketball team doesn't do much in terms of helping you find the Panthers' "star" player.
That's because there isn't one.
"I like that we're all pretty equal and there's no star on the team -- we all contribute and that's what helps us be successful," junior guard Auna Berry, who was one of the Panthers' leading scorers -- tied for a team-best 10 points -- in Central's 50-49 win Thursday, said.
Ryanne Huffman added 10 points of her own in that win, and the parity doesn't just relegate itself to tight victories.
In the Panthers' (9-12, 5-4 Oregon West Conference) 51-8 drubbing of Taft Feb. 14, Mo Tapasa was the leader with 11 points, and Berry had 10.
"That's pretty much how it is," Central coach Mike Hays said of his team's offensive balance. "If you look at our whole season, Juli Peters had 18 points at La Salle Prep (first game of the season) and other than that, 13 has been our highest point total by anybody."
In all, seven Panthers -- Peters, Berry, Aubree Lewis, Mo Tapasa, Sai Tapasa, Catherine Cutsforth and Huffman -- have reached double figures at least once this season.
"That's why it's hard for teams to scout and play us, because you take away one person and three other girls are going to step up," Hays said of his squad that has just one senior (Peters).
The Panthers faced Newport Tuesday night after press time in their regular-season finale to determine third place in the OWC.
The winner should get the No. 3 seed for Friday's Class 4A play-in round, where it will travel to play the Sky-Em League No. 2 seed, likely Cottage Grove (12-12).
Central defeated Cottage Grove earlier this season, 47-39, Jan. 3.
If the Panthers should lose, they will be the No. 4 seed and will travel to the Sky Em's No. 1 seed, Junction City.
Although Hays and Co. insist that every member needs to step up in order to be successful, Berry's energy has been key ever since she returned from missing two early games with a concussion.
"Auna's probably been our most steady (player), at least in league play, and she's done it at both ends of the floor," Hays said. "She's led us in steals in league play, she's led us in scoring, and that's really helped us.
"She hustles all the time. ... She's pushing the ball for us and attacking the basket really well."
Berry said she's just trying to do her part, just as each of her teammates must do theirs.
"I like to keep the games intense -- I don't like slow moving, and I try to keep everyone up and keep it moving," she said, while adding her team, though young and battling injuries -- Sai Tapasa remains out with a concussion and Amelia Huhn has missed two games with a knee injury -- is capable of anything.
"With every game we've gotten better, and I believe if we have everyone healthy and everyone is focused and plays to their potential, we can make it to Gill Coliseum," she said.
ACEBOOK