Central Decatur sweeps Mormon Trail
LEON — The Central Decatur girls and boys basketball teams swept Mormon Trail here on Monday night, easily dispatching the Saints.
The Cardinal girls improved to 6-2 for the season with a 67-19 win, while the boys team improved to 3-5 with a 77-57 win.
Boys
A scrappy Mormon Trail team refused to go away in the first half against Central Decatur.
The Cardinals started the game on an 11-4 run, and eventually stretched that lead to 21-10. But the Saints fought back to make it a four-point game at 34-30 just before the end of the first half.
But a Bryson Durrow jumper on a fast break and two Trevor Greenland free throws before the close of the half gave the Cardinals a 38-30 lead heading into the halftime break.
The early Central Decatur run was ignited by three 3-pointers from freshman Peyton Pedersen, who finished with 15 points for the game.
“We got off to a great start, and then we mentally relaxed defensively,” head coach Zach Clark said. “Mormon Trail played really hard and had some guys knock down some tough shots. We had our best offensive output of the year, as we were able to get in the lane which also created some wide open threes. We shot the ball the best we have all year, because we moved the ball and got it in the lane with penetration and post touches.”
Durrow scored 16 of his game-high 27 points in the first half. Durrow added three rebounds, three steals and four assists for the game.
Central Decatur finally pulled away from the Saints in the second half, outscoring them 39-27 in the half.
Greenland finished the game with five points six rebounds with a team-high five assists, while Nick Durrell came off the bench to add eight points and a team-high eight rebounds and four blocks.
Freshman Ethan Hanna was the only other Cardinal player in double figures, scoring 11 points with five rebounds and two assists. Aaron Linhart scored six points with three steals off the bench, while Noah Simon scored five points with three steals and two assists.
The Cardinals return to action Jan. 4 at East Union.
Girls
In the opening game of the night, the Central Decatur girls rolled to a 67-19 win over Mormon Trail, in a game that saw the Cardinals hold a 47-2 lead at halftime.
The Central Decatur press caused problems for a Mormon Trail team that showed up to the gym just 15 minutes before tipoff.
Fueled by Sadie Greene and Hallie Linhart, the Cardinals started the game on an 18-0 run.
Greene got both of her steals and four of her six assists during the run, while also scoring four of her five points during the stretch.
Jeals Elsberry knocked down a 3-pointer and Caitlyn Saxton made two free throws during the opening run.
After Mormon Trail’s Ashley Hofmann made the team’s first basket with less than 2:30 remaining in the first half, Central Decatur closed out the first half on a 29-0 run.
The Cardinals knocked down six 3-pointers in the first half, and made 11-of-17 from behind the arc for the game.
Central Decatur finished the game with 20 assists on 27 made field goals and 16 steals.
Three players scored in double figures for the Cardinals, as Mary Akers led the way with 11 points off the bench, while Desi Gentry and Hallie Linhart each netted 10. Saxton scored seven points and Brittany Binning added six.
Eleven Cardinal players scored in the contest.
Central Decatur returns to action Jan. 4 at East Union.
