Central rallies to defeat Vanier

If there was any question as the kind of war the Moose Jaw high school boys basketball league is going to see among its top three teams, that question was answered December 19.

The Central Cyclones overcame a seven-point deficit with nine minutes to go in the fourth quarter to take an 81-70 victory over the Vanier Vikings in league action at Central.

The victory saw Central improve 2-0 on the season, while Vanier fell to 2-1.

The contest looked as if it was going to be a Cyclones walk in the early going as they outscored the Vikings 2312 in the second quarter and took a 37-22 lead into half. That all changed right from tip-off after halftime. Vanier used their press to create a host of steals and put together a stunning comeback, pouring in 35 points — including three three-pointers each from Ronald Nyekowat and Riley Follensbee — as they roared back for a 57-51 lead at the final break.

That set the stage for an equally dramatic comeback by the Cyclones, as a 12-4 run after a time-out at the nine minute mark of the fourth quarter saw Central regain the lead, with Kyle Boughen scoring nine of his 17 points and Hardil Khubber scoring all nine of his points in the contest in the final quarter. Ethan Johnson led Central with 21 points.

Riley Follensbee was Vanier’s top scorer with 22 points, Nyekowat scored 20 and Jason Penko picked up 11. ••••

The Peacock Toilers had 22 points from Shae Zwozdesky as they rolled to a 96-44 victory over the Assiniboia Rockets in Assiniboia.

Payton Chow added 20 points and Jett Kowalchuk picked up 12 for the Toilers, who led 45-23 at half. Marcus Navato was the top scorer for Assinboia, who found themselves shorthanded due to a wave of illness going through the team. Jon Harden added nine points. Peacock improved to 1-1, Assiniboia fell to 0-2.

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In senior girls league action, the Central Cyclones took a 62-41 win over the Vanier Spirits.

Sydney Booth scored 11 points for Central, Alexa Watterson had nine; Annah McDonald was Vanier’s top scorer with 11 points, Mackenzie Miller scored eight.

The Cyclones improved to 1-1, Vanier dropped to 0-2.

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The Peacock Toilers had a bit of a scare in the other girls’ league game on Tuesday, but it was short lived as they went on to a 91-27 victory over the Rockets in Assiniboia. The two teams found themselves in a run-and-gun battle through the first quarter, with the powerhouse Toilers finding themselves only holding a two-point lead 19-17. That all changed in the second, as a quarter-long 34-2 run saw Peacock lead 53-19 at half.

Abby Busch led all scorers with 22 for Peacock, Kennedy Ward scored 20.

Alyssa Anderson scored five points for the Rockets.