Centauri gets in tune against Miners

Van Berkum matches Trinidad, girls coast to ninth straight

Nate Anderson brings the ball up court during Centauri's 70-49 victory over Trinidad. Anderson stayed busy hitting 5 three pointers and tallied 27 points for the Falcons.

LA JARA — The Falcons christened their newly waxed court on Thursday night with two drubbings of the Trinidad Miners. At a statistical glance neither Miners team presented much of a threat. And on the court neither one held up to the offensive onslaught from Centauri very well.

The girl’s game looked like a mismatch on paper with the Falcons taking 8 straight games while Trinidad had only won two. And after one quarter the books showed the same mismatch with the Falcons out scoring Trinidad 23-4. Continual steals and sprints to the basket made for a second quarter where the Miners only managed one basket closing the half at 36-6.

The third quarter was the back breaker where Centauri triggered a running clock after going up 46-10. The two teams combined for 14 points in the final chapter bringing the game to its merciful 55-15 conclusion.

Falcon Caroline Van Berkum paced the Centauri ladies for the night and tied all offensive production from the Miners with 15 points. Behind Van Berkum was Ember Canty with 8 points.

Caroline Van Berkum battles her way to the basket early in Centauri's sportsmanship victory over Trinidad. Van Berkum matched the entire Miner team with 15 points as the Falcons forced a running clock in their 55-15 victory Thursday night. (Courier photos by Stephen Jiron)

Centauri’s boys started a little slower but got in a rhythm and took down the Miners as well. Trinidad started out competitive fighting for an edge all throughout first quarter and even entered the second quarter with a lead, 22-20.  

But turnovers and miscues spelled disaster as they began to self-destruct. The Miners' wheels completely fell off when head coach David Harnish drew a technical foul.

Centauri hit a snag of their own losing Sam Anderson midway through the second to an ankle injury. But that didn’t slow down the Falcons as they earned a 38-26 advantage going to the locker room. Anderson would return in the third to bank a 3 pointer totaling 9 points on the night.

Centauri lost a little traction in the third quarter but more than made up for it with a stifling fourth quarter outpacing the Miners to a 70-49 conclusion.

Nate Anderson was very productive from beyond the arc cashing in on 15 points off threes. Anderson had a great night amassing 27 points to lead the Falcons. Behind Anderson was Martin Garcia, who tallied 11 points to the Falcons winning effort.

The Falcons will get another opportunity against two reeling programs next Friday when they face the Bayfield Wolverines. The girl and boys squads are a combined 3-8. The Wolverines come to town next weekend on Jan. 12, girls varsity is slotted to take the court at 6 p.m. and boys at 7 p.m.