Mary Wilson wasn’t about to call it the best quarter of basketball she’s played, but it likely makes the conversation.
The Center Grove senior scored 15 of her game-high 25 points in the first eight minutes Tuesday night, leading the Trojans past visiting Indian Creek, 54-32, in the first round of the Johnson County tournament.
Included in the flurry of points were three 3-pointers that helped Center Grove jump to a 26-6 lead after one quarter.
“I would say it was one of my best quarters just from the standpoint of accuracy and being able to knock down those shots right away,” Wilson said. “It definitely built up my confidence. Getting the lead early was key, not just with Indian Creek, but just in general that’s just kind of our approach to everything.
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Click here to purchase photos from this gallery“If we jump on them early, it sets the tone for us and we just play better. Overall, I’m very happy with how we played.”
The victory qualifies Center Grove (2-3) for Thursday’s semifinals at Whiteland. The Trojans take on Greenwood Christian in the 6 p.m. first semifinal, while unbeaten Franklin plays the host Warriors in the second game.
Indian Creek (0-3) played without freshman guard Lauren Foster, the team’s leading scorer in its season-opening loss to Martinsville.
The Braves committed 10 turnovers the first eight minutes but played a much better second stanza, actually outscoring Center Grove, 9-8. Freshman forward Faith Wiseman tallied six of her points during the quarter and finished the half with seven rebounds.
Trailing 40-15 late in the third period, the Braves proceeded to score 12 consecutive points, including six from sophomore reserve Lauren McClanahan, to add a hint of suspense to the proceedings.
The Trojans finally answered on freshman guard Aubrie Booker’s baseline triple at 5:40 of the fourth, starting Center Grove’s 14-5 run to close out the game. Booker produced nine of her 13 points during the stretch.
Indian Creek was led by junior guard Emily Todor with eight points, while Wiseman finished with seven points and eight boards. Neither squad shot well from the floor with the Braves going 12 of 38 (31.6 percent) and the Trojans 21 of 57 (36.8).
The Braves wound up committing 26 turnovers to Center Grove’s 15.
Coach Kevin Stuckmeyer’s team now faces Greenwood Christian, a Class A semistate qualifier a year ago that would like nothing more than to knock off the county’s biggest high school.
“They’ve got two phenomenal scorers that can put the ball in the basket, so they’re confident,” Stuckmeyer said of GCA. “The others play their role really nicely. They play well together and have had a lot of success. I think they’re going to bring the fight to us, so we’re going to have to match it and take care of our end of it.”
