Central City answers Titans' challenge

COLUMBUS - The Central City boys basketball team answered every call Twin River made in the second half.

The Bison used two second-half runs to pull away for a 72-62 win over the Titans in the Class C1-6 subdistrict at Columbus High School gym Tuesday. Central City will play Boone Central for the subdistrict title at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Unlike its 69-44 loss to the Bison Dec. 21 where it hit only one 3-pointer, Twin River stayed in the game by draining nine treys. Twin River coach Tod Heier said he couldn't have been happier with how it competed.

“The kids fought hard throughout the entire game to try and come away with the win,” Heier said. “Our hard work gave us a chance to win tonight. We shot the ball better tonight, and we had to because of their size. (Central City) just did a great job of answering our runs in the second half.”

The Bison featured five players taller than Twin River's tallest player - 6-foot-3 Cory Pilakowski. They used the height advantage in the first half with eight offensive rebounds to go ahead 28-19 at halftime.

Outsized, the Titans played big in the second half as they tried to stay close. Adam Vetick, who led all scorers with 24 points, started a 7-2 run with a 3. Pilakowski capped the run with a steal and a dunk to put Twin River within 30-27.

Central City answered the first run with a Kyle Nelson 3-pointer. Also, C.J. Killin, who recorded seven of his 15 points in the quarter, scored the final six Bison points of the quarter for a 45-36 lead.

But the Titans would not go away. Vetick banked in a 3 at the buzzer to bring them to 45-39 at the end of three quarters. They closed to two points three times before Kraig Charron, who led Central City with 16 points, answered with a three-point play. Charron scored six of the Bison's next 12 points for a 65-53 lead with 1:57 left to play.

n See TITANS, Page 2B

Twin River held Aaron McCoy to 11 points, but the 6-9 post grabbed 12 rebounds. Bison coach Justin Anderson said he was happy to see them respond when momentum wasn't on their side.

“We had guys step up who don't normally do,” Anderson said. “C.J. and Kraig are both seniors and they made the plays for us when we needed them. I kept telling our boys that good teams find ways to win and that's what happened with us tonight.”

Central City could have made the final score worse, but made just 15 of 33 free throws.

Despite the loss, Heier said the season was a successful one for the Titans.

“We had some ups and downs but the kids played hard every night for us,” Heier said. “We played in the conference championship game for the fourth consecutive year and went undefeated in the conference for the third year in a row. So the kids have a lot to be proud of.”

Central City (12-7) 16 12 17 27 - 72

Twin River (12-9) 9 10 20 23 - 62

n Central City-Kyle Nelson 2 3-4 1 8, C.J. Killin 5 5-8 3 15, Chris Anderson 2 0-0 1 5, Dustin Schuller 0 0-2 1 5, Matt Clausen 3 2-2 1 11, Sam Kuck 2 1-4 4 6, Aaron McCoy 5 1-6 3 11, Kraig Charron 6 4-5 5 16. Totals 25 15-33 19 72.

n Twin River-Chase Graham 0 0-0 4 0, Dustin Graham 2 1-2 3 7, Derek Gray 0 0-0 1 0, Adam Vetick 7 5-6 4 24, Grant Engel 2 2-2 4 6, Corey Pilakowski 3 3-4 4 9, Scott Johnson 3 0-0 1 8, Kevin Seier 1 6-9 1 8. Totals 18 17-23 22 62.

n 3-point goals-Central City 7 (Clausen 3, Nelson 2, Anderson, Kuck), Twin River 9 (Vetick 5, Johnson 2, D. Graham 2).