It was a cold Friday night outside but inside the gym in Blue Rapids basketball action heated up as the season got underway for the Centralia Panthers and Valley Heights Mustangs in a Twin Valley League battle of teams expected to contend for the league titles.

At the end of the night it was the home team in the Mustangs completing the sweep earning a pair of wins with the girls winning 58-41 and the boys capturing a 60-40 win.

The lady Panthers and Mustangs hit the floor first starting off trading blows in the first quarter with Valley Heights holding a 13-11 lead after one period. In the second quarter things unraveled for the Panthers as Valley Heights outscored them 21-12 in the quarter behind seven points by sophomore, Brandi Jo Roepke in the quarter to give her 15 in the first half,  while Panthers also lost junior, Amaris Jones in the second quarter to an injury. Roepke added 12 to her 15 in the first half to finish the game with 27 and earn “Community National Bank” Player to Bank On honors on the KMZA broadcast.

Mustangs lead by 11 at the half but saw their lead dwindle in the third quarter as Centralia worked it down to five but a 10-1 fourth quarter by Valley Heights cemented the game in the Mustangs favor for a 58-41 win.

Joining, Roepke in double figures was junior, Sidney Blackburn who tallied 17 points, while senior, Lesley Frohberg added nine. Centralia was led by junior, Liz Hasenkamp who had 14 points, hitting three three-pointers, while senior, Kaitlyn Koch added 12 points and freshman, Cassidy Haufler had 10.

For the boys the Panthers came into the game with only one practice under their belt, having won the 2-1A State Football title less than a week ago from game night hung with the Valley Heights Mustangs early as Valley Heights battled foul trouble had lead 26-23 at the half.

Both teams fought foul trouble in the second half and the Mustangs closed the game in their favor behind a 25-10 fourth quarter, picking up the 60-40 win.

Mustangs were led by senior, Charles Musil who tallied 14 points, 11 of which came in the second half helping him earn “Community National Bank” Player to Bank On honors on KMZA broadcast. Senior, Derek Trimble added 12 points, while senior, Bennett Bargdill and junior, Elijah Smith each added eight points. Centralia was led by seniors, Sam Steinlage and Brett Burdiek with 12 and 10 points, respectively in the loss.

For the Mustangs they turn their focus to a home showdown with St. Xavier on Tuesday (December 10^th) and the Panthers head home to square off with the Axtell Eagles on Tuesday. (Axtell at Centralia game will be featured on 92.1 KMZA on Tuesday night).