It might be the strangest season on record, but the Central Cyclones keep on finding the win column in Moose Jaw high school basketball league action.
And now both teams find themselves in first place in their respective leagues.
Central picked up a 75-52 win over the Vanier Spirits in girls action on Tuesday while the Cyclones overcame a slow start to defeat the Vikings 69-48 in boys league play.
Against the Spirits, Central rolled out to a 24-13 lead in the first quarter, and as well as things went for them defensively in that frame, they were far better when play resumed. So good, in fact, they’d turn in one of the best defensive showings in recent history, holding Vanier to a single point and building a 46-14 halftime edge in the process.
Vanier got back into the swing of things after the break and would actually win the fourth quarter before settling for the 23-point loss.
Lilly Matthies led Central with 20 points while Lind-Z Detubio scored 16 in a balanced offensive outing from the victors. Piper Olson led Vanier with 23 points, Grace Waldenberger scored eight.
Central improved to 4-1 with the win, moving a game ahead of Lumsden for first place. Vanier fell to 2-3 and sit tied with Peacock for third.
In boys action, Vanier got off to an outstanding start and took a 16-12 lead out of the first quarter, but Central would come on after the break, outscoring the Vikings 19-8 to take a 31-23 edge into halftime.
Mohamed Jabateh led the Cyclones with 20 points while Tommy Vincent scored 14 to go along with 11 each from Kaedyn Banilevic and Ammiel Chin. Eric Meili had another solid showing for Vanier with 23 points, Caleb Newkirk scored 12.
Central remains undefeated at 5-0 on the season, while Vanier fell to 1-2 to sit in third place.
Games between Lumsden and Notre Dame were postponed.
Boys league action resumes on Thursday with Lumsden at Vanier and Notre Dame at Peacock, with both games starting at 6:20 p.m. The lone girls game has Lumsden at Notre Dame, also at 6:20 p.m.
