In their first game of the new calendar year, the Centralia girls looked strong in all areas.

Centralia at Moberly Photo Gallery

The Lady Panthers won 71-34 at Moberly on Friday night after nine players scored and allowed the starters to rest in the fourth quarter. The Class 3 No. 3 Centralia remained undefeated after Braylin Brunkhorst led the floor with 22 points and nine rebounds.

Head coach Megan Brinkmann said some areas can always be improved but was pleased with how Centralia (8-0) was good in several areas after a long layoff due to Christmas break. 

“I liked how we started,” Brinkmann said. “Offensively, we executed. We boarded extremely well and made it tough for them on the defensive end.”

Brunkhorst made an impact early in the game by scoring 16 of her points in the first half. Ryenn Gordon finished with 16 points and six rebounds, and Madi Johnson and Ealynne Bostick each had nine points. Johnson knocked down three 3-pointers.

Moberly (2-7) was in a big hole early by trailing 21-7 after the first quarter. Brinkmann said the defense has some of those aspects that need improvement but liked how the Lady Panthers defended most of the game. 

“We’re athletic in our pressure, and our help the helper was really good from our 5,” Brinkmann said. “There was some getting through some screen action I didn’t really like and just weren’t extremely disciplined at times, but 98 percent of the time, we were and that’s what led to our success tonight.”

Brunkhorst said she could tell that the Lady Panthers practiced in the gym at 8 a.m. over Christmas break but also could see the effects of not having a game for two weeks. The team will need some time to sync again, but she said they did play well together like it has to keep the Centralia girls program undefeated. 

“We came out and showed them Centralia basketball,” Brunkhorst said. “We have worked so hard this season while having a target on our back every game. We’re all on the same page, and this team has the best chemistry.”

Centralia hit six 3-pointers but only after consistent scoring in transition and pushing the ball to the rim. Brunkhorst was at the head of this effort as was Gordon. 

Brinkmann said her all-state players enjoy collecting defensive stops so the Lady Panthers can run and score before the other team can catch its breath. 

“Braylin runs extremely hard, and she finishes through contact,” Brinkmann said. “She’s tough to stop. If you stop her, then you have others running the floor as well and Ryenn is going to find you.”

About half of Brunkhorst’s rebounds were on the offensive glass and those putback buckets helped her outrebound Moberly 8-7 in the first half. Centralia had a 21-7 rebound advantage at halftime. 

Brinkmann said she likes how Brunkhorst fits in the high post because she is tough to deal with since she is athletic and active. Brunkhorst said Centralia’s effort on the glass this particular night was noteworthy.

“We haven’t really played many teams that have played us in zone this year,” Brunkhorst said. “It’s hard to rebound out of a zone defense. We worked on rebounding during Christmas break. I think my layups weren’t necessarily what they could’ve been, but they’ll get better.”

Brinkmann definitely has some new year’s resolutions for the team, which primarily is each girl gaining confidence and being more effective in certain roles. She pointed out Johnson was 3-for-5 on 3-pointers and is confident she can consistently shoot at that clip. Later in the game, when Brooklyn Hardin had open looks from the perimeter, Brinkmann encouraged her to shoot it and did drain a shot.

“Looking at some things offensively, we’re able to install some actions to benefit our players and our players’ strengths,” Brinkmann said. “We’ve got some defensive things to get better at and make sure it’s continuing to get fine-tuned. It’s a lot about confidence.”