(Anita) Tri-Center scored the first twelve points of the game and eventually came away with a 59-47 win at CAM on Tuesday. The Trojans are moving on to a girls basketball regional semifinal at 6th rated Westwood on Friday.
Taylor Kenkel scored 17 points, Alexis Flaharty notched 14, and Meya Wingert 10 in the victory. The Trojans held CAM scoreless for over five minutes at the start of the contest. They used a balanced scoring attack in the opening frame to build a double digit lead. The Cougars turned deep on their bench to try and find a spark. Freshman Daphna Wahlert provided just that with a pair of 3-pointers. CAM closed within six points, but Tri-Center extended the advantage to eight at the end of the 1st quarter at 16-8.
Tri-Center consistently hit shots from mid-range to establish a double digit lead. Taylor Kenkel added three 3-pointers in the 2nd quarter to balloon the edge to as much as 17 points at 29-12. Kenkel reached 100 career 3-pointers (including 52 this year) and made all six of her free-throw tries in the game. The Trojans held a 37-25 advantage at the break.
CAM’s best stretch of the game came midway through the 3rd quarter. Kiera Nichols was a key factor in the Cougar’s comeback bid with her nine points after halftime. The home squad picked up the intensity on defense and got some shots to fall on offense. It paved the way for a 9-0 span to close within six at 45-39. Tri-Center recovered with the final four points of the 3rd to take a ten point cushion into the 4th.
CAM was unable to inch any closer in the final frame. Brooke Daughenbaugh and Alexis Flaharty each went 2/2 at the line and Tri-Center made 10/14 as a team for the game. The Trojans improve to 14-9 on the season. They’ve won seven of their past nine games.
Scoring 10 each for CAM were Daphna Wahlert and Meredith Rich. Kiera Nichols posted 9 points. The Cougars end the year at 16-7. It’s their 10th time in the last 11 season with a double digit win total.