Center Roughriders Gymnasium on Friday, January 24, 2025 –
The Center Lady Roughriders varsity basketball team is struggling at times this season but are also showing improvement. One sign of the program turning around is that after they fell by a 68-53 score to the Madisonville Lady Mustangs three weeks ago but they regrouped to battle MHS to a very tight game at Roughriders Gym on Friday. The game started out very tight early and CHS trailed 6-4 midway through the first period and then trailed just 12-13 after one complete quarter. At halftime Madisonville held a 21-20 lead.
The third period saw the Lady Mustangs begin to slightly distance themselves and they held a 28-24 advantage midway in the third frame and they led 37-31 going into the final period of play. Center didn’t give up and they clawed their way back into the contest. By the late stages of the game three free throws by sophomore point guard Journee Smith pulled the Lady Riders to within just three points of the Lady Mustangs at 42-45. However, Madisonville was able to expire the remaining clock and earn the 46-42 win.
The Lady Mustangs were led scoring by Khia Byrd with 11 points and Shania Morning with 10. The Lady Roughriders were led by Journee Smith with a game-high 14 points and Edneeuna Barnes with 10.
Center will head to Bullard on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 for a 6:15 p.m. game at Panthers Gymnasium.
Center now stands at 8-17 overall and they hold a 1-6 District 17 4A conference mark. Bullard is at 18-11 overall and 5-2 in District 17 4A.
