Central Catholic girls take down Flora, advance to 2A final four

Posted on February 24, 2015

The Saints used an up tempo style of play to out run Flora 65-51. (You Name It Sports)

By Austin Duncan

DECATUR , Ill -The Central Catholic Saints girls basketball team took down Flora 65-51 in the IHSA 2A Super Sectional at Millikin University’s Griswold Center.

Flora drew first blood early in the first quarter and the Saints were able to answer in an up tempo game. CCHS used a full court press to make Flora uncomfortable.  Behind the scoring of Lexi Davis, the Saints led 17-14 at the end of the first quarter.

After trailing by as much as seven in the first quarter, Flora used the quarter break to regroup and go on a 10-0 run to lead by as much as four. The Saints answered with a run of their own to take a 31-28 lead into the locker room at halftime.  Davis finished the first half with a game high 12 points.

The Saints came out running out of the locker room to expand the lead to five before Flora’s Brook Bayles hit a pair of threes to put Flora up one.  In a back and forth contest CCHS began to pull away leading, and Sydney Shanks hit a layup at the buzzer to expand the Saint’s lead to 46-36 at the end of the third quarter.

Flora was paced in scoring by Brook Bayles 15 points Crimson Jones who scored 12 and saw limited action due to picking up her fourth foul in the middle of the third quarter.

The Saints used their stingy up tempo style of play to wear down Flora throughout the fourth quarter. CCHS led by as much as 18 points in the fourth quarter en route to the victory.  Sydney Shanks played defensive anchor with seven steals. 

The Saints had four players in double digits including Lexi Davis (20), Kate Hoerdemann  (15),  Sarah Brady (13) and Ellie Stevens (10).

This marks CCHS head Coach Debbie Coffman’s 400th career victory as a head coach, all of which came at Central Catholic.

Listen to Debbie Coffman discuss the game here.

The Saints advance to the Final Four where they will meet the winner of the Monmouth Super Sectional, Kankakee Bishop McNamara Friday, 6:30 p.m.  at Redbird Arena.

IHSA 3A Girls Sectional Semi-final

 U-High 64 Springfield 47  at Rochester.

U-High will play Thursday against regional host, Rochester.

IHSA 4A Girls Sectional Semi-final

Rock Island 74 Normal West 41 at Pekin. Normal West’s season comes to an end. 

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