Monroe Boys Stay Perfect in CCC; Monroe Girls Outlast Centralia in Tight Finish

Monroe City swept Centralia in a Clarence Cannon Conference doubleheader on Centralia Senior Night Friday.

The Monroe City boys topped Centralia 68-56 on sophomore Josiah Talton’s career night.

Eric Duick with the call on KRES and centralmoinfo.com. Josiah Talton proceeded to score 26 points on eight 3-point makes for 21-2 Monroe City. The Panthers outscored Centralia’s Panthers 28-13 in the third quarter after Monroe entered the half with a 25-24 advantage. Brock Edris’ Monore City squad sits 5-0 in the CCC.

Junior Logan Buhlig ended with 15. Centralia senior John Durant recorded his 1,000th career point on Senior Night. The seniors for 18-5 Centralia will graduate with three straight 15-plus win seasons. Assistant coach Chad Thall reflected on a veteran team’s accomplishments.

Thall filled the head chair Friday with head coach Scott Humphrey out due to illness.

In the girls game, Monroe City held on for a 63-61 win. Junior Riley Quinn paced the black and gold Lady Panthers with 15 points. Coach Cody Leonard discussed the junior’s dominant game.

Senior Lauren Youngblood was the other Lady Panther in double-figures with 12. Senior Bailey Hays provided seven fourth-quarter points, including the final three Monroe City points from the free throw line to seal the win. Monroe City’s press forced Centralia into turnovers all night, with two on the last three possessions. Centralia coach Becca Schemmer evaluated the difficulties.

The game came down to the last possession. After the Hays free throws put Monroe City up two, Centralia missed a 3-point attempt with five seconds to play. On Senior Night, senior Mary Kate Bennett led Centralia with 23 points, 10 coming in the second quarter. Schemmer reflected on what Bennett has meant to the program.

Senior Anna Romine scored six third-quarter points, including a buzzer-beating three to end the frame.

The loss is Centralia’s fourth in a row, dropping its record to 9-13 and 1-5 in the CCC. Monroe City improves to 14-9 and 2-3 in conference. Monroe City closes conference action with doubleheaders against Brookfield and Macon next week. Centralia visits Clark County for its last CCC game next Friday. Hear full interviews with the coaches below.

Monroe City boys coach Brock Edris: