2/18/15 • By Kyle Cummings / kcummings@columbustelegram.com
COLUMBUS -- Central's win over Northeast Wednesday not only bumped the Raiders over .500 for the season again, but it was a season-changing victory at that.
According to Central head women's basketball coach Mike Kroupa, the Raiders put together its best defensive performance and least selfish game leading to quite possibly the best win in recent program history.
"In my 11-years of coaching, this is the best game I've been apart of, so I'm pumped," Central head coach Mike Kroupa said. "This is awesome."
The Central Community College women's basketball team held off National Junior College Athletic Association Division I, No. 17 Northeast Community College 81-74 Wednesday at the Raider Fieldhouse.
"I told the girls that's the best win we've ever had in our program, at least since it was rejuvenated," Kroupa said. "We're really excited. I told the girls, we play like this in our Regional Tournament, we got a chance to make nationals. To me, this is a program-changing win. We're really excited about it."
Just three seconds into the contest, it was apparent the Raiders would need to play a near-flawless game when the Hawks had grabbed a three-point lead moments after the tip-off.
Almost a reflection to the game as a whole, Central answered back within 15 seconds behind Montrese Weller's 3-pointer.
Northeast slowly built a nine-point lead minutes into the game, before Central's defense and rebounding took over.
The Raider offense hammered out a 13-2 run, keeping Northeast's shots limited.
"We caused turnovers and we held them to one shot," Kroupa said. "When we hold them to one shot, then we're going to be in great shape. Then we got our transition game going."
Weller scored seven points during the 13-2 stretch, while Lana'e Washington-Carson added four points, and LaShonda Brewer had two points.
"It was a balanced 13 points and that's when we're at our best," Kroupa said.
Central took a two-point lead for about 10 seconds in the first half, before the Hawks managed to bounce back for a three-point halftime lead.
Five minutes in the second half, the Raiders finally took their lead for good when McKenna Rossmeier buried a pull-up fast-break 3-pointer, giving Central a two-point edge.
Rossmeier's 3-pointer was during an 8-1 Central run.
Central also made a number of key 3-pointers down the stretch, including three from Adrianna Beck to stay on top of the Hawks.
"We had a nice game plan coming in," Kroupa said. "We're lucky they missed a couple shots they usually don't, but we'll take it."
Northeast pushed within six points in the final minute, but the Raiders knocked down eight free throws late to seal the win.
Beck led the Raiders with 21 points, while Weller added 19 points and Rossmeier had 12 points.
Wednesday's victory lifted Central out of a funk. The Raiders had lost five of their last six going into the contest.
"It's a new life, it really is," Kroupa said. "That was a great win for us. We played together as a team and I hope we're clicking at the right time."
Central travels to McCook Community College Sunday for its regular season finale.
Wednesday at the Raider Fieldhouse
Northeast (24-5) 41 33 - 74
Central (14-13) 38 43 - 81
* CENTRAL (field goals-free throws-fouls-points) - Adrianna Beck 7 3-4 3 21, Paige Muhammad 1 0-1 3 2, Kelsey Flaherty 1 1-3 0 3, Lana'e Washington-Carson 4 0-0 1 8, Shananthia Bryant 2 0-0 3 4, McKenna Rossmeier 3 5-6 2 12, Montrese Weller 5 6-7 3 19, LaShonda Brewer 3 2-4 3 8, Makayla Augustine 1 2-4 1 4. Totals 27 19-29 19 81.
* NORTHEAST - Brooke Bauer 5 2-2 4 13, Octavia McGraw 1 0-0 2 2, Yasmin Miller 2 1-2 3 6, Megan Trinder 3 7-9 3 13, Allie Millard 2 0-0 0 4, Janea Bunn 5 0-1 3 10, Sydney Koel 4 3-6 3 11, Ena Biso 6 2-2 2 15. Totals 28 15-22 20 74.
* 3-point field goals - Central 8 (Beck 4, Weller 3, Rossmeier 1), Northeast 3 (Bauer 1, Miller 1, Viso 1).