Playing in their third home game out of their first four of the season, the West Central Trojan girls beat another AA team on Tuesday, December 22nd.  The Trojans had no trouble with the Watertown Arrows in a 53-30 victory.

The West Central defense caused problems for Watertown all night long.  The Trojans forced 26 Arrow turnovers, with 15 of those turnovers coming on steals.  West Central also held Watertown to just 24% shooting from the field and 0-13 from three-point area.

The Trojans had the lead from the start of the game getting out to a 14-7 lead by the end of the first quarter.  The lead grew to 12 points by halftime at 24-12.  Watertown pulled within six points at 26-20 with 3:30 to play in the third quarter, but that was as close as they would get.  West Central closed out the third quarter on a 7-0 run to lead 33-20.  The Trojans then outscored Watertown 20-10 in the final quarter for the win.

West Central finished the game shooting 32% (18-56) from the field, 30% (6-20) from three-point area, and 58% (11-19) from the free-throw line.  Two players finished in double figures.  Rylee Haldeman had 12 points, seven steals, four rebounds, and three assists.  Molli Thornton also had 12 points with two rebounds.  Addy Kramer finished with eight points and nine rebounds.  Cassidy Siemonsma added eight points and six rebounds, while Josslin Jarding ended with seven points and seven rebounds.

West Central (4-0) will play White River at 6:00 p.m. in the Sacred Hoops Classic in Mitchell on Saturday, January 2nd.

The last time the West Central Trojan and Winner Warrior girls basketball team met was in the South Dakota Class A state championship game in 2019.  Both teams were undefeated going into the game, and it was Winner that was took home the championship and perfect season after a 60-53 victory.  The Warriors had not lost a game since then.  They finished last year’s season undefeated (no championship games played) and had won their first two games of this season.

The Trojans and Warriors met again in Hartford on Friday, December 18th, for a battle of top five teams.  West Central came into the game ranked fifth in the latest media poll, and Winner entered the game as the number one ranked team.

West Central led at the end of every quarter break and snapped the long winning streak of the Winner Warriors with a 53-43 victory.

The Trojans found themselves leading by four points at the end of the first quarter at 12-8.  They were able to grow the lead to seven points by halftime at 25-18.  Winner kept within striking distance in the third quarter as the Trojans led 36-30 heading into the fourth.  West Central outscored Winner 17-13 in the final quarter to secure the win.

Cassidy Siemonsma finished with a team-high 18 points for West Central.  Josslin Jarding added 13 points.  Addy Kramer had 12 points along with seven rebounds.

West Central (3-0) will host Watertown on Tuesday, December 22nd.

The West Central Trojan girls basketball season started with an overtime thriller on Tuesday, December 8th.  The Trojans hosted the Huron Tigers to start the 2020-2021 season and earned an 88-81 victory.

The entire game was a close battle between the two teams.  Huron held the early advantage at 17-16 after the first quarter of play.  That lead grew to three points by halftime as the Tigers led 40-37.  The Tigers again were able to increase their lead in the third quarter.  Huron led 57-52 heading into the fourth quarter.

A technical foul against West Central in the fourth quarter gave Huron two free throws and the ball with 7:28 to play.  After another foul and two more free throws, the Tigers pushed their lead to nine points at 61-52 with 7:18 in the fourth quarter.  Despite the four-point swing, that sequence of events sparked the Trojans.  West Central went on a 9-0 run to tie the game 61-61 with 3:57 left in the fourth quarter.  The Trojans held a 71-69 lead with :13.2 to play.  Rylee Haldeman made one of two free throws to extend the lead to 72-69.  A foul on Haldeman sent Huron to the free throw line.  Both shots were made to cut the lead to 72-71.  The Tigers again had to foul and sent Haldeman back to the free throw line with :10.2 seconds.  She made both free throws to give the Trojans a 74-71 lead.  A foul by the Trojans on a three-point shot with :05.3 seconds left gave Huron a chance to tie the game from the free throw line.  All three shots were made to tie the game 74-74 and send it to overtime.

The two teams went back and forth in the first half of the overtime period.  West Central held a 79-77 lead with 2:00 to go in the game.  The Trojans finished the final two minutes on a 9-4 run to take the win 88-81 in overtime.

The Trojans and Tigers combined to shoot 52 free throws in the game.  Huron finished 26-28 from the free throw line, while West Central was 16-24.

Four players finished in double figures for the Trojans.  Cassidy Siemonsma had a double-double with 28 points, 15 rebounds, and added five assists.  Addy Kramer also had a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds.  Cambell Fischer finished with 11 points, and Haldeman ahd 10 points, seven assists, and six steals.

The Trojans (1-0) will travel to Mt Vernon to play the Mt Vernon/Plankinton Titans on Tuesday, December 15th.