Coming off a Christmas Tournament Championship, the red-hot Central Rebels kept the line moving this week, taking down Saxony Lutheran and North County to claim their 12th victory in a row. Their only loss this season came at the hands of the Festus Tigers in the opening game of the campaign.
The win streak was at 10 on Monday as the Rebels hosted the Saxony Lutheran Crusaders, who had struggled to the tune of a 4-6 record at that point. The road team came out fired up in this one though, and despite 10 points from Jobe Bryant, they won the first-quarter battle 16-12. Central would respond quickly though with a whopping 23 points in the second quarter and held the Crusaders to just nine. Bryant had eight more and the offense and defense clicked at the same time, allowing Central to enjoy a 35-25 lead at the break.
The Rebels picked up right where they left off in the second half, draining another 19, highlighted by a pair of big threes by Collin McMullen. They kept the Crusaders at bay once again, stuffing them to the tune of just seven points. There would be no letting up in the fourth either. Zack Boyd went off with 10 points, Central put up 17 total and, despite Saxony putting up 17 of their own, there was no hope for a comeback. The Rebels took this one easily 71-49.
Bryant was once again the leading scorer with 23 on nine buckets, a three and was a perfect 2-for-2 at the line. Boyd was next in line with 12 on six baskets, Caden Casey and McMullen each had nine. McMullen nailed three from beyond the arc.
That was win number 11 in a row.
Win number 12 came in the form of a road trip to North County on Friday night, and Runnin’ Rebs could smell that next W from the jump. Bryant had another 10-point first quarter and Central was up 22-9 after the first eight minutes. The Raiders fought back a bit in the second quarter though, outscoring the Rebels 13-12, but the visitors still enjoyed a lofty 34-22 lead at the half.
After the break Central would extend their lead even further. Five points, including a big three-pointer, from Mason Williams helped the Rebels to a 16-11 third quarter, bringing their lead up to 27 heading into the final frame. That set up an interesting fourth, where the Raiders, who put up 15 points to try and creep back into it, would have to foul. A lot. From the line Casey hit three, Bryant hit two, Williams hit two and Boyd made one, as the Rebels went 8-of-11 in the quarter to seal the deal. The 69-48 final gave them that coveted 12th straight victory.
It was Bryant yet again in the points department in this one, draining a game-high 20. Casey hit four buckets and went 4-of-5 from the charity stripe for 12 points, while Williams had 10 points to round out the players in double figures.
This Rebels team appears to be a freight train that no one can seem to slow down, let alone stop. They will continue to barrel down the tracks next week on 1/10 as they host a very talented 9-3 MICDS squad.
