Central City tops Alburnett for 6th straight girls’ basketball victory

ALBURNETT — For the Central City Wildcats, eight straight fourth-quarter points meant a sixth straight win.

Central City owned the closing stretch and rallied past Alburnett, 52-42, in a Tri-Rivers Conference West Division girls’ basketball battle Tuesday night at Alburnett High School.

Sara Reid posted a double-double (23 points, 10 rebounds), added six assists and four steals, and the Wildcats (6-1 overall, 1-1 division) earned their sixth straight victory.

It’s definitely the program’s longest winning streak in the Quik Stats/Varsity Bound era, and believed to be the longest run of consecutive victories since Central City joined the five-on-five party in 1993.

“Our chemistry … we’ve played together for a while,” Reid said. “If you pass somebody the ball, you believe they’re going to make it.”

The Wildcats built an eight-point halftime lead, and didn’t panic after Alburnett (5-2, 0-2) made a third-quarter run to take the lead.

“Our girls were a little tired in the third quarter and came out sluggish,” said first-year coach Al Fear.

They must have found a second wind.

With the game tied at 39-39, Reid got a steal and passed it upcourt to Bailee Weber to put the Wildcats in front with 6:00 left. That triggered a telling 8-0 run that put the Wildcats in command for keeps.

Natalie turned another steal into a bucket. Reid scored in the paint, then assisted on Lucy Smith’s basket to make it 47-39 with 3:12 to go, then the Wildcats won going away.

It was a nice follow-up for Reid, who passed the 1,000-point career mark Friday.

“She’s probably the best I’ve ever coached,” Fear said. “She’s got a lot of natural ability, and she’s very coachable.”

Reid served as a facilitator early, finally getting on the board with a pair of free throws nearly 5 minutes into the game. She had 14 by halftime, though, as Central City built a 30-22 lead.

Weber added 14 points, 10 in the first half.

Lacey Neighbor paced Alburnett with 17 points. The Pirates were without two starters, out with illness.

As usual, the West Division is the class of the Tri-Rivers. Springville, North Linn and Maquoketa Valley are traditional powers.

Where does Central City fit?

“I think we can be toward the top,” Reid said. “I hope we can be in the top three.”

Central City 52, Alburnett 42

At Alburnett

CENTRAL CITY (52): Natalie Noonan 3-8 0-3 6, Coletta Wade 1-3 0-0 2, Brulea Brooks 1-2 1-4 3, Bailee Weber 6-13 2-2 14, Sara Reid 8-15 5-6 23, Hanna Kramer 0-1 0-0 0, Lucy Smith 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 21-45 8-15 52.

ALBURNETT (42): Peyton Scott 2-5 3-4 7, Savannah Caves 1-3 0-2 2, Ava Armon 2-8 0-0 6, Ally Olmstead 2-13 1-2 5, Lacey Neighbor 7-13 3-7 17, Isabelle Graubard 2-4 0-0 5, Lindsey Hospodarsky 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 16-47 7-15 42.

Central City 13 17 5 17 -- 52

Alburnett 8 14 15 5 -- 42

3-point goals: Central City 2-10 (Noonan 0-1, Brooks 0-1, Weber 0-3, Reid 2-5), Alburnett 3-13 (Scott 0-1, Caves 0-2, Armon 2-8, Graubard 0-1). Team fouls: Central City 18, Alburnett 15. Fouled out: Kramer. Rebounds: Central City 31 (Reid 10), Alburnett 32 (Olmstead 13). Assists: Central City 12 (Reid 6), Alburnett 10 (Armon, Graubard 3). Steals: Central City 12 (Reid 4), Alburnett 0. Turnovers: Central City 18, Alburnett 22.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com