With just two games on the schedule for the week, the Centennial girls’ basketball team was able to get some rest for another three-game week followed by the conference tournament.
The Broncos beat Wilber-Clatonia 48-23 Jan. 19 and Centura 37-20 Jan. 23.
The team got off to a good start against WCHS, Coach Jake Polk said, but then the offense went stagnant in the second quarter. CHS led 15-8 after the first and 19-15 at halftime.
“We were not as aggressive to the hoop,” Polk said.
He said the team talked about its effort during halftime and came out with more intensity in the third quarter, outscoring the Wolverines 22-4 to pull away.
Polk said the coaches listen outside the locker room to gauge the mood of the team at halftime.
“I like it when they’re encouraging each other and talking about what’s going on. They were definitely motivated to have a better performance in the second half,” he said.
Jaci Opfer had a good game for CHS, scoring nine points to go with four rebounds, three steals and two assists.
Polk said CHS was happy to play a team it had never played before when it hosted Centura.
“It came down to how we handled ourselves,” Polk said.
Centennial held the Centurians to just four points in each of the first two quarters while scoring 14 and 10.
“We played phenomenal defense,” Polk said.
Offensively, however, the game wasn’t one of Centennial’s best. Teh Broncos were 14-53 shooting and just 1-15 from three-point range. Polk said he wasn’t upset with the shot selection.
“We hang our hat on defense, and that gives us a lot of opportunities to win,” he said.
Daylee Dey led the Broncos with 14 points and recorded two assists. Kate Hirschfeld added 10 points and four steals.
Polk said Asia Nisly played one of her best defensive games of the season, and he was pleased with one of her assists to Jaycee Stuhr.
“It’s great to see unselfish play,” he said.
Centennial (15-1) was scheduled to host Fillmore Central Jan. 26, but the game was postponed because of weather, and travel to Thayer Central Friday, Jan. 29. The team is set to host Nebraska Christian Saturday, Jan. 30, at 2:30 p.m. in a make-up game from earlier this season.
The Southern Nebraska Conference tournament starts next week, and Polk said Centennial would probably be the No. 1 seed. CHS will play the winner of Fillmore Central/Heartland at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2, at Centennial.
