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Burlington Central rolls behind Schmidt's career-high 31

Burlington Central's girls basketball team entered the third game of its tournament in less than ideal position, missing standout freshman point guard Alana Wells and another starter Zoey Kolllhoff.

Good thing for the Rockets they still had Kat Schmidt.

The 6-foot sophomore scored a career-high 31 points, leading shorthanded Burlington Central to a 64-30 victory over Larkin at the Rockets' tournament.

"We had to fill her shoes," Schmidt said of Wells. "She's a great player and I think we did a good job with that. Missing Zoey, we had to pick up our energy level because she really gives us that boost. I think we did a good job filling our rloes and moving the ball and looking for each other."

Wells missed the game due to a head injury suffered in a victory Wednesday. Kollhoff was at a soccer tournament.

Schmidt more than picked up the slack, scoring 25 of her points in the first half on 11-of-17 shooting from the field as the Rockets (3-0) built a 38-15 halftime lead.

Larkin (0-3) got off to a good start, taking an early 8-4 lead on putback baskets by Gloria Stoltz and Haley Bohnee.

"A little slow start without two starters," Rockets coach Mark Smith said. "They pressure you, they make you do things you don't want to and we're trying to overcome that with some young kids. Credit to Larkin, they were playing hard and physical."

Schmidt's conventional 3-point play gave the Rockets a 9-8 lead. Larkin went ahead one last time on Aaliyah Dixon's drive, then Reili Gardner found a cutting Schmidt for a basket and a 10-9 lead.

That shot started a 13-0 Rockets run, with Schmidt scoring 11 of the points. Stoltz swished a 3 to momentarily stop the surge, but the Rockets then scored 10 straight to make it a 23-3 stretch and open a 32-13 lead.

"I didn't call timeout, I wanted the girls to try to figure it out themselves," Larkin coach Steve Knapp said.

"The last two games we've come out down 9-0, 8-0 and dug ourselves a hole and tonight we did the exact opoposte. After that first six or seven minutes we went back to where we were. We had a big lull."

Schmidt also grabbed 16 rebounds and blocked 3 shots. The Rockets outrebounded the Royals 43-24 with Lily Moretti and Avery Anderson both hustling for 6 rebounds.

Smith said he thinks Wells will be back Saturday when the Rockets play both Belvidere North and East Aurora.

Junior Mackenzie West also hit double figures Thursday with 10 points.

"We are a lot more comfortable this year that we all have experience from last year," Schmidt said. "I think it's going to be a really good year. We're picking up the pace because our point guard (Wells) can really see the floor well."

Bohne led the Royals with 16 points and 4 steals.

"Haley Bohne is a bulldog," Knapp said. "She's a leader on the team, and her jump shot has gotten a lot better.

"We missed a lot of layups. Hopefully that will change soon. We're trying this new era without Marlee Kyles (all-time leading scorer now at Arizona). And I hate bringing that up but it shows."

  Larkin's Amber Allen gets the ball to a teammate from the floor Thursday in Burlington. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Burlington Central's Madelyn Menke defends Larkin's Aaliyah Dixon. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Burlington Central's Alexandra Lichner, left, blocks a shot by Larkin's Alexia Saldivar as teammate Avery Andersen also defends Thursday in Burlington. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Burlington Central's Avery Andersen passes the ball from the floor while Larkin's Brianna Young defends her Thursday in Burlington. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Burlington Central's Reili Gardner, left, and Avery Andersen try to slow down Larkin's Brianna Young as she drives to the hoop Thursday in Burlington. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Burlington Central's Reili Gardner, left, and Madelyn Menke sandwich Larkin's Brianna Young as she drives to the hoop Thursday in Burlington. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Burlington Central's Mackenzie West blocks a shot by Larkin's Aaliyah Dixon Thursday in Burlington. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
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