Last night a much anticipated matchup went down between the Centralia Panthers and Valley Heights Mustangs. The Lady Panthers were ranked #2 in class 1A D1 coming into the night, whereas the Lady Mustangs were ranked #4 in the class of 2A. The Centralia Girls managed to capture a dominant win to remain unbeaten at 5-0 while the Centralia Boys picked up a big win to win two straight. 

Girls - Centralia over Valley Heights 56-45

The first half was utter dominance for the Lady Panthers, just like it’s been all season so far. Valley Heights had a near ten turnovers in the first quarter and were being held outside of the perimeter. The first quarter ended 14-7.

The second quarter was yet more quick work for Centralia as they outscored the Mustangs 16-8 in the quarter to head into the half 30-15. The second quarter was the only quarter the Mustangs managed to stay out of early foul trouble as Centralia dominated the paint all night. Deters had fourteen points alone in the first half for Centralia as well.

The third quarter would be toughened out a little closer with the Mustangs only being outplayed 15-12 on the board, going into the final quarter 45-27. Oen Deters had six points in the third quarter, going four-of-five at the free-throw line. 

Valley Heights would try to make it close in the fourth, but no closer than an eleven point game as the final score of 56-45 would indicate. The Lady Mustangs did out-score the Panthers 18-11 in the final quarter, primarily by getting a lot of help by hitting four of their total five threes on the game, all within the fourth quarter. More impressively each three was by a different Mustang: Mia Vermetten, Ava Smith, Lindsay Gray, Tessa Miller. Despite the strong efforts to comeback, the Panthers held onto their lead and never had it change since their first bucket and would win. 

Oen Deters finished as my player of the game for her monster twenty-two point performance and seven rebounds. Tava Gibbs would also find yet another double digit scoring game with eleven points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Josie Haverkamp had an outstanding night with seven points and nine rebounds. Ava Smith finished with eleven points and seven boards for the Mustangs while Mia Vermetten lead the charge with thirteen points and about three rebounds. Valley Heights would finish with over twenty-three turnovers on the game (ALL STATS NOT APPROXIMATE).

Boys - Centralia over Valley Heights 67-38

The Centralia Boys came out of the out of the corner swinging and packed a real punch in the opening quarter to start 18-5, heading into the second quarter. In the first quarter the Panthers were out-rebounding the Mustangs roughly fifteen to seven boards, which would prove the paint-play to be their great success to the big victory. Quinten Alderfer also hit two threes in the opening quarter to assist the Panthers. 

The first half ended 35-17 and in the first half alone Henry Heidenman absolutely dominated the board completely with seventeen points and four boards. In the first half alone he also went five-for-six up at the free-throw line. The Panthers also out rebounded the Mustangs twenty-two to eight boards. 

The Panthers would go on to continue to dominate in every quarter as they managed to win all four quarter of the game to reach the final tally of 67-38.  Everson Parker would finally reach the board in the fourth quarter to finish with six points, but much wouldn’t change the dominant final outcome. 

Henry Heidenman impresses with a twenty-two point game and seven boards while right behind him was Quinton Alderfer with fourteen points and three rebounds. Alderfer had three of the team’s total four threes on the night and could not be stopped outside the arch. The Mustangs found a new leading scorer this game with Mack Shanks getting seventeen with Logan Gray behind him with nine (ALL STATS NOT APPROXIMATE).

The Panthers would finish with nearly forty rebounds on the game while the Mustangs almost at twenty. The Mustangs roughly turnover about twenty-five times as well, whereas the Panthers kept it around fifteen. 

Summary

Lady Panthers upset yet another top ranked opponent in a higher classification than they are to remain undefeated at 5-0, and are setting themselves up for what could be a special season. The Panther Boys now pick up back-to-back games against competitive higher classification teams to improve to 2-3 before the break. The Lady Mustangs have now lost two straight to fall to 3-2 and now will look to recover and get back on track come January to be that powerhouse team their known as. Mustang boys still search for their first win of the season at now 0-5 and will have some time with the break to get healthy and get everyone back out onto the court for themselves. Next up is Clifton-Clyde for Centralia and as for the Mustangs it’s Frankfort. 

Both teams will now head into the break and take time to get recovered and prepared for what’s going to be an exciting Twin Valley League clash for the remainder of the season. With that also being said, to all reading this before or on Christmas, even after. Have a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!