Four basketball teams with combined records of 62-13 squared off for an important CLAA doubleheader held at Brunswick Tuesday night. As the evening ended, both Brunswick and Higbee had posted a win, with everyone looking forward to the annual conference tournament which begins in a few days at Tina-Avalon.
The girls’ matchup saw Higbee hold off Brunswick down the stretch as they defeated the Wildcats, 44-40. Then in the nightcap, the Brunswick boys caught fire late in the second period which propelled them to a big 64-27 victory over the Tigers. Both winning teams remain unbeaten in CLAA action as the regular season winds down to a precious few games.
Missed Opportunities
Brunswick’s girls got off on the right foot, starting strong and jumping out to an 8-0 lead with Higbee failing to score for the first four and a half minutes of the contest. Higbee then responded with an 11-2 run over the rest of the quarter as they were on top, 11-10 after the opening period. The remainder of the way, the two teams traded the lead back and forth with neither side ever ahead by more than four points during the final half. When it was over, Brunswick had to look back on the chances they didn’t take advantage of, missing numerous field goal tries within the five-foot range, in addition to making several unforced ball-handling errors at very inopportune times.
The Wildcats had been hoping to avenge the 20-point loss they suffered to Higbee in the finals of the Northwestern of Mendon Tournament back in early December. Higbee’s win improved them to 7-0 in CLAA play and 15-4 overall. Kiersten Rockett had 14 points to pace the Tigers. Brunswick fell to 7-1 in the league and 14-6 for the season as Cadence Meyer tossed in 20 points to lead all scorers.
Leaving No Doubt
The boys’ contest saw the Wildcats hold the lead the entire evening as they were on top, 18-10 after the first quarter. Brunswick was ahead by 10 points much of the second period before exploding during the final two minutes of the half to extend their advantage to 36-16 at the break. After three quarters the home tram was leading 54-20 before going on to win 64-27 as the entire fourth period was played with the mercy rule in effect.
This outcome was much like the 45-point victory that Brunswick posted over Higbee during tournament play back in early December. Now 7-0 in the league and winners of 19 straight games, the 19-1 Wildcats were led by 22 points from Troy Zeilstra. Dropping to 7-2 in the CLAA and 16-4 overall, Higbee saw a 14-game winning streak end with this loss. Danny Janssen paced the Tigers with a nine-point effort.
Other scores from Tuesday night:
Girls
Adrian 55 Warsaw 19
Brookfield 54 Polo 29
Bucklin/Macon County 49 Linn County 14
Cairo 55 Community 32
Centralia 60 Macon 33
Hannibal 66 Moberly 25
Lawson 47 Oak Grove 37
Marceline 47 Trenton 31
North Callaway 59 Prairie Home 42
Northwestern (Mendon) 42 Norborne 36
South Shelby 40 Monroe City 31
Boys
Adrian 69 Warsaw 36
Brookfield 66 Polo 57
Cairo 66 Community 62
Centralia 61 Macon 30
Eugene 71 South Callaway 40
Hale/Bosworth 74 Tina-Avalon 51
KC St. Pius X 60 Chillicothe 41
Linn County 62 Bucklin/Macon County 50
Moberly 66 Hannibal 42
Northwestern (Mendon) 47 Norborne 27
Osage 81 Versailles 60
Prairie Home 82 North Callaway 68
Trenton 61 Marceline 44
Wednesday’s games include:
Doubleheaders
Archie at Lone Jack
Knob Noster at Pilot Grove
Mexico at Fulton
Southwest Livingston at East Harrison
Girls
Bunceton/Otterville at Leeton
Boys
Odessa at Van Horn