Four Centre College seniors helped the Colonels do Sunday what they have done often during their careers — win a conference game.
Centre improved to 11-0 at home this season with a 60-46 win over Millsaps in the final regular-season home game for Calvin Cahall (Georgetown, Ohio), Bryon Ellis (Russell Springs), Matt Griggs (Cincinnati) and Spencer Wright (Cincinnati). The Colonels are 74-28 in the four years the players have been on the team.
“It was a fun day for us. Those four guys have been great, but their biggest impact was off the floor. They are four great guys,” said Centre coach Greg Mason. “They have given a lot to the program and it was nice to send them out with a win.”
Centre (17-4, 10-2 SAA) got 16 points, seven rebounds, three steals and three assist — and no turnovers — from junior Donovan Whiteside.
“He had a huge weekend, maybe the best back to back games he’s had in two years,” Mason said. “He really did a good job playing within himself and had a huge impact on the game.”
Josh Karsner had 12 points, three rebounds and one block. “He got opportunities and did well,” Mason said.
The Centre coach says his team continues to “re-invent” itself as players get healthy. The Colonels have a chance to be the No. 1 seed in the conference tourney if they can close the season with wins at Hendrix Friday and Rhodes Sunday.
Women win
Junior Paige Baechle (posted another double-double, her 15th straight this season, with 17 points and 13 rebounds to lead Centre to a 66-55 win over Millsaps. Senior Chelsea Benham added 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals in her final regular season home game, and Ålexis Guy came off the bench to score 14 points.
The Majors scored eight of the first 13 points in the second half to take a 36-35 lead at the 16:46 mark, but it would be their last lead of the game as the Colonels used a 9-4 run to go back in front 46-40.
At Alumni Gymnasium
WOMEN
CENTRE COLLEGE 66, MILLSAPS 55
MILLSAPS COLLEGE (14-9, 10-2 SAA): Shante Morton 6-11 3-5 17, Makayla Roberson 6-11 1-2 15, Velvet Johnson 3-13 0-0 8, Samantha Perez 3-5 0-0 6, Beverly Holmes 2-4 0-0 5, Lovie Love 1-6 0-2 2, Shatoya White 1-1 0-0 2, Brittnei Earl 0-0 0-0 0, Miah Brooks 0-3 0-0 0, Tasha Mbenza 0-0 0-0 0, Victoria Morgan 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 22-57 4-9 55.
CENTRE COLLEGE (12-10, 10-2 SAA): Paige Baechle 6-11 5-6 17, Chelsea Benham 4-7 6-8 14, Alexis Guy 5-7 3-4 14, Maggie Hartlage 4-8 0-0 8, Mary Stough 2-3 1-1 5, Hillary Moore 0-2 5-6 5, Mary Winstead 1-3 0-0 3, Jenna Mire 0-3 0-0 0, Bonnie Rhule 0-0 0-0 0, Bridget Winstead 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 22-46 20-25 66.
Halftime—Centre 30, Millsaps 28. 3-point goals—Millsaps College 7-23, Centre College 2-13 (Alexis Guy 1-2, Mary Winstead 1-2, Maggie Hartlage 0-1, Hillary Moore 0-1, Jenna Mire 0-3, Bridget Winstead 0-2, Chelsea Benham 0-2). Fouled out—Millsaps College-Victoria Morgan, Centre College-None. Rebounds—Millsaps College 31 (Makayla Roberson 5, Miah Brooks 5), Centre College 32 (Paige Baechle 13). Assists—Millsaps College 8, Centre 12 (Chelsea Benham 4)..
MEN
CENTRE COLLEGE 60, MILLSAPS 46
MILLSAPS COLLEGE (4-19, 2-10 SAA): Nick Cortese 5-13 0-0 12, Tully Gilligan 4-9 0-0 8, Ryan Berger 3-6 1-4 7, Brandon Allison 3-8 0-0 6, Jackson Griffon 2-6 0-0 5, Murray Kastner 1-12 3-4 5, Kevin Wilson 1-4 0-0 3, Chase Freeman 0-0 0-0 0, Alex Gerchow 0-0 0-0 0, Jeremy Mogged 0-0 0-0 0, Rajan Hanstad 0-0 0-0 0, Ryan Detillieu 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-58 4-8 46.
CENTRE COLLEGE (17-4, 10-2 SAA): Donovan Whiteside 6-9 1-2 16, Josh Karsner 4-6 1-1 12, Blake Scinta 2-8 5-6 9, Matt Griggs 2-7 2-3 6, Tyler Wesley 2-7 1-2 5, Chris Taylor 2-3 0-0 4, Holden Hertzel 2-2 0-0 4, Collin Lopez 1-2 0-0 2, Bryon Ellis 1-6 0-0 2, Taylor Newsome 0-0 0-0 0, Calvin Cahall 0-1 0-0 0, Spencer Wright 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-51 10-14 60.
Halftime—Centre 26, Millsaps 22. 3-point goals—Millsaps College 4-14 , Centre College 6-19 (Donovan Whiteside 3-4, Josh Karsner 3-4, Matt Griggs 0-3, Bryon Ellis 0-5, Calvin Cahall 0-1, Blake Scinta 0-2). Rebounds—Millsaps College 35 (Berger 12), Centre College 36 (Tyler Wesley 9). Assists—Millsaps College 10, Centre 13 (Whiteside 3).
