When the Community R-6 girls have scored at least 50 points, they have been unbeatable.

Community R-6 Senior Night Photo Gallery

The Lady Trojans did just that through sickness during Tuesday’s Senior Night game by beating Central Activities Conference foe Sturgeon 52-46. Senior Aaliyah Welch and Peyton Beamer combined for 41 points and shot 13-for-20 at the free-throw line to lead the team to its third win over Sturgeon (8-13, 2-5 CAC) this season.

Head coach Bob Curtis said the school, including the Lady Trojans’ locker room, has been feeling the effects of a flu outbreak. He noticed it playing a factor in Friday’s 45-35 Homecoming loss to another conference foe Pilot Grove so he was happy Community (15-8, 6-2 CAC) was able to push through, even without one starter Jocelyn Curtis because of sickness.

“Aaliyah was not feeling well either, but she got through tonight,” Curtis said. “We had two starters that were definitely a little under the weather and a couple others that sounded like respiratory issues.”

Community couldn’t snag as many rebounds as it normally can due to Curtis being a post player and others not feeling 100 percent. Despite that, Curtis said Sturgeon’s center was out due to a knee injury the night before against La Plata, meaning the Sturgeon’s performances from Allie Heath and Brooke Smith were absolutely necessary. Heath led the Lady Bulldogs with 13 points and three 3-pointers, and Smith had 11 points and seven rebounds.

Curtis said the Lady Trojans converting on free throws was a huge help. Welch, in particular, was 8-for-13 from the line while recording a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Beamer followed with 19 points and six assists with a 5-for-7 performance at the line. The two biggest offensive threats for Community came through for the team’s fourth 50-point game and fourth in those games.

“They shot at a decent rate at the free-throw line,” Curtis said. “That was big as well because we do shoot a lot of free throws. When they don’t go in, it’s a stop for our opponent. That hurts when they can get bailed out by fouling us.”

Beamer knocked two 3-pointers, but each came at key times to give Community its first lead near the end of the first half prior to a 27-23 halftime lead for the Lady Trojans. When the perimeter shots weren’t falling, Beamer made a habit of driving toward the rim and finding Welch for points.

Sturgeon was in a bad position whenever the cutting Welch caught the ball near the rim as it either ended in a foul and trip to the line or an easy layup. Curtis said Beamer’s passing was what the team needs out of its point guard.

“A couple times, we were being pressed late, and Peyton drove the ball and Aaliyah’s girl slipped over to help on the dribble,” Curtis said. “She found Aaliyah on the opposite block for a layup. Then, a couple on our backdoor play, we got Aaliyah several times on a backdoor play.”

Curtis said he wasn’t sure how the team would look with Tuesday’s roster but received enough contributions for the much-needed victory after losing six of the previous eight games. The Lady Trojans play at conference foe Glasgow (13-7, 5-1 CAC) at 6 p.m. Friday.

Community’s other seniors Rylee Rafferty and Amy McCurdy started the game and took advantage by Rafferty scoring six points and McCurdy snagging three rebounds.

“I was happy for Rylee, Amy and Aaliyah,” Curtis said. “They’re all good kids and good seniors and have meant a lot for our program. It was nice to get a win for them.”