Final push sends Center Point-Urbana past Marion, 47-42

MARION — Taylor Reaves described it, astutely.

“It was messy,” she said.

And ...

“I don’t regret a thing.”

Beat an archrival, and you take it however you get it.

Reaves nailed the go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:05 left, part of a closing 8-0 run, and Class 3A eighth-ranked Center Point-Urbana topped 4A No. 13 Marion, 47-42, in a non-conference girls’ basketball game between the Wamac rivals Tuesday night at Marion High School.

“Every game is going to be different for us,” said Reaves, a senior who scored a career-high 23 points. “It’s not always going to be me.”

In a game that featured 17 lead changes, the Stormin’ Pointers (1-0) manufactured the last one, holding Marion (0-1) scoreless through the final 3:05.

Trailing 42-39, CPU started its final push with a basket from Addy Tupa. Then Reaves drilled the go-ahead trey to put her team in front, as it turned out, for good.

Reaves made two free throws with 20 seconds left to make it a two-possession game, then Nicole Rick tacked on another foul shot with 0:13 remaining.

“We just wanted to get some stops and make some shots,” CPU Coach Philip Klett said. “We might not have that kid who can go out and get everything, but we have some pieces.

“To be good, we have to be balanced and play good team defense.”

CPU’s final margin matched the largest lead of the night, for either team. The Stormin’ Pointers led 9-4 and 12-7 early, then it was back and forth the rest of the way.

“Just like I thought it would be,” Marion Coach Henry Martinson said. “The second half, we got kind of stagnant. We’ll get better.”

CPU won despite 26 turnovers. Marion committed 24. And both teams were called for 20 fouls.

Like Reaves said, messy.

Rick added 11 points for the Stormin’ Pointers, and Mya Hillers posted eight points and eight rebounds.

Madeline Pavelka led Marion with 12 points, six rebounds and four steals. Ella Bockenstedt tacked on eight points, eight boards and four steals.

The teams meet again Jan. 10 at Center Point. That game counts toward conference standings.

Center Point-Urbana 47, Marion 42

At Marion

CENTER POINT-URBANA (47): Tayler Reaves 5-14 9-10 23, Alivia Sweeney 0-2 2-2 2, Addy Tupa 1-6 1-3 3, Mya Hillers 3-6 2-4 8, Nicole Rick 4-9 1-2 11, Kailey Spurlock 0-1 0-0 0, Josie Klett 0-1 0-0 0, Avery Sweeney 0-2 0-0 0, Addilyn Wade 0-1 0-0 0, Deni Katcher 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 13-44 15-21 47.

MARION (42): Ava Attwood 1-9 3-4 5, Regan Rice 2-5 0-1 4, Jenna Heinricy 1-1 0-2 2, Ella Bockenstedt 3-9 2-5 8, Madeline Pavelka 5-9 1-2 12, Mila Van Weelden 2-8 2-4 8, Natalie McAllister 0-0 0-0 0, Grace Stephenson 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 15-42 8-18 42.

Center Point-Urbana 12 10 11 14 — 47

Marion 11 12 10 9 — 42

3-point goals: CPU 6-23 (Reaves 4-11, Alivia Sweeney 0-1, Tupa 0-2, Hillers 0-1, Rick 2-5, Spurlock 0-1, Wade 0-1, Katcher 0-1), Marion 4-13 (Attwood 0-5, Rice 0-1, Bockenstedt 0-2, Pavelka 1-1, Van Weelden 2-3, Stephenson 1-1). Team fouls: CPU 20, Marion 20. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: CPU 36 (Hillers 8), Marion 30 (Bockenstedt 8). Assists: CPU 7 (Tupa 4), Marion 8 (Attwood, Rice, Van Weelden 2). Steals: CPU 12 (Tupa 5), Marion 10 (Bockenstedt, Pavelka 4). Turnovers: CPU 26, Marion 24.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com