Centralia girls hold off Moberly, hoist second straight home tournament title

The Centralia girls couldn’t be afraid of losing on Friday night.

Centralia vs Moberly Photo Gallery

The Lady Panthers went into the Centralia Invitational championship game as the defending champions but were facing undefeated Moberly, who edged them out 43-41 for a district title on Centralia’s floor last season. Centralia showed that fearlessness with a 62-57 victory that was made possible by four double-digit scorers and three that were named to the all-tournament team.

Braylin Brunkhorst was one of those all-tournament players after finishing with 19 points and two steals against Moberly (4-1) and averaging 16.3 points in the three tournament games. She made her presence felt right away by scoring 15 of her points in the first half and making sure she and her teammates didn’t fall to the Lady Spartans again.

“We came in and played together,” Brunkhorst said. “We worked the ball, and everyone was there and had the same goal. Everyone was excited for everyone, and it was just a really great feeling.”

The Lady Panthers (5-1) spread the ball to others, including all-tournament selection Raegan Anderson after finishing with 11 points and three 3-pointers against Moberly and 12.3 points per game and Morgan Ross following her 10 points and five rebounds against Moberly and 12 points per game. Ryenn Gordon added 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists, and Shelby Lewis had eight points and eight rebounds.

Brinkmann said the effort in last season’s district title game couldn’t have been much better so she was happy that her girls had another shot at the LadySpartans. From the beginning this time around, she said Centralia proved it wasn’t fooling around.

“I saw grit, toughness and togetherness, and that’s the first time we really put it all together,” Brinkmann said. “We attacked gaps and found the open players. They were switching on some things, which gave us opportunities for Braylin and Ryenn to drive, help and then you got Morgan and Raegan hitting shots.”

Brunkhorst is strong, physical and is capable of finishing at the rim, Brinkmann said. After doing so much on offense and guarding all-state player Grace Billington, Brinkmann said Brunkhorst also has to have much energy to continuously be effective on the floor. Since Brunkhorst hasn’t hit a 3-pointer yet this season, Brinkmann said it is impressive she can consistently have great offensive production but believes she will find the rhythm from the perimeter.

When it comes to driving in the lane, Brunkhorst loves it and loves how it helps the team.

“I do prefer to drive into the lane,” Brunkhorst said. “I love to get a step on people and see those gaps — work in there and finish or look for the kickout or dump pass on the opposite side.”

Billington did manage to score 21 points and hit four 3-pointers, with some being from a longer distance to keep Moberly close. The Lady Spartans cut Centralia’s lead from 18-9 to 18-16 to end the first quarter and then turned a 49-30 Lady Panther lead until a tense 60-57 affair in the final seconds. 

“I think we were scared to lose a little bit,” Brinkmann said. “I’m glad it happened now when we still got the win.”

Asa Fanning finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks to give Moberly its only other double-digit scorer. Brinkmann said those two alone are a handful to defend but thought Centralia did a good all night making Fanning take tough shots in the post.

“Fanning and Billington are just absolutely the best dynamic duo probably in the state,” Brinkmann said. “Both are really athletic and can hit a shot at any given time and really good defensively.”

Moberly made a habit of taking it to the rim in the second half and drawing fouls on Centralia. The Lady Spartans 9-for-12 at the free-throw line at the second half while the Lady Panthers were at a 4-for-10 clip in the second half and holding onto a 60-57 lead after a Billington 3-pointer.

The freshman Gordon obviously didn’t experience last season’s meeting with Moberly but didn’t take long to introduce herself with five points and four assists in the first quarter. She was there in possibly the biggest moment of the game in the fourth quarter, being asked to reverse Centralia’s success at the line and seal the game. Gordon knocked down both free throws without much of an issue despite only making it to the line once beforehand, according to Brinkmann.

“Being a freshman, walking into varsity can be very nerve-wracking, and I think she has handled it very well,” said Brunkhorst, who was a freshman last season. “She’s always working hard in practice, and she is a really good asset to our team.”

“I need the ball in Ryenn’s hands,” Brinkmann said. “She spends time in the gym doing these things, and that’s why she’s successful. When she got fouled, yeah, put her on the line.”

Panthers fall behind Moberly’s bigger possessions to lose third-place game 62-54

Whenever the Centralia boys scored on Saturday, it seemed Moberly would respond with more.

Centralia vs Moberly (Centralia Invitational) Photo Gallery

The host Panthers lost the third-place game of the Centralia Invitational to Moberly 62-54 dispute leading 30-26 at halftime. The Spartans drained 10 3-pointers and completed two 3-point plays compared to the five 3-pointers by Centralia.

Centralia (4-3) hopes to return the favor when it hosts Moberly (3-2) on Dec. 19 and will have to be aware of the shooters that knocked down shots, even when they were deep in 3-point territory. Kish Jacobs Jr. made the all-tournament team along with Tyrese Rucker after finishing with a game-high 22 points and five 3-pointers. Rucker had nine points for the Spartans and made 3-of-7 free throws that factored into the Spartans’ 10-for-17 night at the line.

It was a tight game from the opening tip but one where the Panthers had the advantage after the first half due partly to the 11 points scored from Noah Kropf, who finished with a team-high 17 points to go with six rebounds. Kropf made the all-tournament team along with Logan Rosenfelder, who hit two 3-pointers against Moberly following his three on Thursday in a 55-40 loss to Salisbury. Cullen Bennett had 11 points and five rebounds and Beau Hatton finished with seven points and five rebounds. 

Bennett gave Centralia and its crowd something to feel good about right before halftime when the senior all-conference quarterback heaved a full-court pass to sophomore all-conference defensive back Elliott McCoy for a layup at the other end. However, Moberly took the lead from the third quarter to the final buzzer after hitting three 3-pointers and completing both of their 3-point plays in the period.

The Panthers were within one possession with just less than two minutes left in the game after Travis Brooks hit a 3-pointer to respond to Jacobs Jr.’s deep shot but couldn’t hit any more shots.

Centralia boys win Wentzville Liberty Invitational, Shelton champion for girls

Centralia wrestling had its fair share of champions last weekend at the Wentzville Liberty Invitational.

On Saturday, the boys won the team title with 226 points over second-place Francis Howell Central’s 174 points after having four win individual titles and two more make it to first-place matches. On Friday, Jayci Shelton took first at 155 after two-period pinfalls, a second-period pin and another first-period pin over Warrenton’s Allison Vacek to win the title.

Rex Bryson was first at 157 pounds after two first-period pinfalls, a second-period pinfall and an 18-3 technical fall before pinning Holt’s Boston Howard in the first minute to take first, Wyatt Adkisson was first at 165 after having two first-period pinfalls, a second-period pin and a third-period pin and then pinning Fort Madison’s Joe Hartman in the second period, Ian Tuggle was first at 215 after three first-period pinfalls and a third-period pin and then a first-period pin of Pattonville’s Daniel Davis, and Marshall Kable was first at 285 after a second-period pinfall, two third-period pins and a 7-0 decision and then a 9-2 decision over Battle’s Wyatt Belcher-Key.

Bryson Dubes made it to the first-place match at 106 before being pinned by Warrenton’s Zayden Teson but had two first-period pinfalls, a second-period pin and a disqualification victory. Louis Suddarth was second at 150 after losing by a 16-0 technical fall to Holt’s Logan Rubinstein but had two first-period pinfalls and a second-period pin. 

The remaining Centralia medalists included third-place Weston Ward at 144 and Coulten Baker at 190; fifth-place Blake Bodine at 120, Charlie Robinson at 126 and Mason Adkisson at 175; and sixth-place Waylon Adkisson at 113.

For the girls on Friday, Madi Shelton finished fifth at 125 with a second-period pinfall and then two first-period pins for a 3-1 record. Shelton lost a 7-2 decision to Hannibal’s Riah Wigfall.

Panthers lose first dual of season, Lady Panthers win at Hannibal

Centralia wrestling couldn’t make up the deficit on Monday night.

The Panthers lost their first dual of the season at Hannibal 45-36 after falling behind 39-6 while the Lady Panthers won 24-18.

Hannibal had four pinfalls, a technical fall and a major decision before Rex Bryson pinned Peyton Pritchett in the first period at 157. Wyatt Adkisson, Drayden Conde and Coulten Baker followed that win with their own first-period pinfalls at 165, 175 and 190 as part of a five-match winning streak that put Centralia behind 39-30 at the time, but there was only one match left.

For the girls, Hannibal had some victories over the Lady Panthers, including a 4-2 decision over Jamila Juma by Hannah Nguyen and 5-2 decision over Abigail Barte by Piper Harvey, before Jayci Shelton gave the team a match win. She pinned Sidney Zimmerman in the first period after defeating her last week at the Wentzville Liberty Invite.