Wilson, Gomez hit double figures in 57-18 rout

Centauri’s Caroline Van Berkum (44) keeps the ball at a safe distance away from Bayfield’s Macee Schultz (20) during Saturday’s road trip to BHS Gymnasium.  Van Berkum scored four points in CHS’ 57-18 victory.

BAYFIELD — With Centauri's Falcons coming to town fresh off a 40-32 loss at #4 Pagosa Springs in Intermountain League action the night before, The home team likely knew they would be in for a long Saturday. Compounded with their first loss Centauri had demons to exercise having been bumped down to No. 2 in the CHSAANow.com Class 3A poll earlier in the week. Bayfield’s young and developing roster (defeated 49-34 Friday night at Montezuma-Cortez) would need a near-perfect performance to have had any hope of protecting their home court.   

As soon as the curtain—or in this case, jump ball—rose, the Lady Falcons ran the show.

Senior forward Caroline Van Berkum gained senior center Ember Canty’s initial tip in stride, took it in for a layup, and the guests were already on their way to a 57-18, mercy rule-quickened triumph.  Junior forward Melissa Wilson drained two of her three three-pointers during the opening, tell-all eight minutes, and freshman reserve Brenna McDaniel sank the first of her two as CHS piled up a 17-2 lead.

Also coming off the bench, freshman Brynli Sowards closed out the first half with a runner in the lane, increasing Centauri’s advantage to an uncatchable 32-10, before Dave Forster’s starting five re-entered in the third quarter and combined for 18 of the squad’s 23 points—ballooning the eventual victors’ margin to 55-12.

Wilson totaled a game-best 13 points and senior guard Alyssa Gomez a quiet, but effective ten.  McDaniel booked eight, while Canty and sophomore reserve Kaitlyn Quinlan each chipped in six.  Emerging freshman post Kira Riley’s six points paced the Lady Wolverines (4-11, 1-5 IML).

Up next, CHS (14-1, 5-1) will visit M-CHS (3-12, 1-5) this Friday, Feb. 2, with the start slated for 5:30 p.m.  BHS, meanwhile, will travel to Monte Vista (4-10, 1-5) for what should be an intriguing second encounter; Bayfield edged the Lady Pirates 51-49 back on Jan. 13 inside BHS Gymnasium.

UPDATE: When the aforementioned rankings’ newest weekly revision was released Monday, Centauri’s loss-win weekend wasn’t enough to stop a slip to #3 in the top ten, with previous #1 Colorado Springs St. Mary’s (13-0 overall) retaining top billing and previous #3 Colorado Springs Christian (13-2 as of this morning) up a notch.

CHS (17-15-23-2) 57: K.Huffaker 2 0-0 5, A.Gomez 5 0-0 10, E.Canty 2 2-2 6, M.Wilson 5 0-0 13, C.VanBerkum 2 0-2 4, K.Martin 0 0-0 0, D.Garcia 0 1-2 1, B.McDaniel 3 0-0 8, K.Quinlan 3 0-0 6, M.Garcia 1 0-2 2, M.Bagwell 0 0-0 0, N.Cormier 0 0-0 0, I.Prieto 0 0-0 0, B.Sowards 1 0-0 2.  TOTALS: 24 3-8 57.  3-POINTERS: Wilson 3, McDaniel 2, Huffaker.  TOTAL FOULS: 11.  FOULED OUT: None.

BHS (2-8-2-6) 18: T.Christensen 1 0-0 2, K.Riley 2 2-2 6, T.Florian 1 0-2 2, J.Lanning 1 0-0 2, M.Schultz 0 0-2 0, C.Varnell 1 0-0 2, M.Wells 0 0-0 0, H.Loveday 2 0-0 4, M.Barnes 0 0-0 0, M.Youngblood 0 0-2 0, B.Merchant 0 0-0 0.  TOTALS: 8 2-8 18.  3-POINTERS: None.  TOTAL FOULS: 10.  FOULED OUT: None.