Central claims third straight MAAA crown

FARMINGTON – The Central Lady Rebels added another star to their historic run as they staked an undefeated 5-0 claim to the MAAA Large School Conference championship on Monday with a 55-33 win over the Farmington Knights.

The win for their third straight title gives the Lady Rebels a 20-0 season so far and a winning streak of 47 straight.

Central’s half-court press forced several turnovers by the home team in the first quarter, and coupled with a dominance on the offensive boards, the Lady Rebels were able to establish a double-digit lead by the end of the quarter.

Farmington took its only lead on a pair of free throws by Ellaina Davis to start the game. A conventional three by Megan Skaggs and a putback by Karissa Belfield gave the Lady Rebels the lead for good.

Skaggs would strike four more times inside the paint to score 11 of Central’s 17 points in the quarter as the Lady Rebels floundered from the circle. Central made only four triples in the game out of 13 attempts with Jensen Uding scoring the first to close out the quarter.

The Knights’ turnovers limited them to only four shots in the quarter with Lexi Pauls scoring the only field goal, a three to go along with three free-throws by Davis. Pauls struck three times in the game from the circle to finish with 11 points.

The Lady Rebels continued to dominate the offensive boards in the second quarter as BreAnna Seaton, Skyler Amonette and Olivia Casey all made putbacks in the quarter with the Lady Rebels scoring 10 of their 12 points in the quarter on second chances.

The Knights were able to get the ball inside to Rachel Rothlisberger to score all four of her points in the second quarter. Davis drilled a three from the top of the key for an eight-point half on her way to leading the Knights with 12 in the game.

Skaggs curled around a defender to lay the ball in to finish with 15 in the first half and she would nail a three late in the third quarter to finish with a game-high 28.

Amonette pulled down a Central missed three to start the third quarter, resulting in Skaggs scoring on the follow-up, but scoring would be at minimum in the quarter as each team managed only one basket in the first four minutes. A Caitlyn Holmes steal led to Skaggs’ three for a Central 36-22 lead with one minute left in the third.

Alyson Tucker made a steal late in the quarter which she took all the way to the hoop, but Uding followed on the ensuing play with her second triple.

Peyton Bradley punctuated a 14-point fourth quarter for Central with a three, and Skaggs polished off her game with six points in the frame.

Central travels to Sullivan on Tuesday for their next game, and Farmington (3-12) will host North County on Wednesday for their next contest.