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Schutta ties Burlington Central record in win over Marengo

The Burlington Central boys basketball program now has two-all-time leading scorers.

More importantly, it has a school-record 19-game winning streak after senior guard Zach Schutta scored a game-high 21 points to help Central fend off feisty Marengo 64-60 in the Kishwaukee River Conference Tuesday.

Schutta's 21 points tie him with 2012 graduate Ray Hunnicutt atop the school's scoring list with 1,522 points. He surpassed No. 2 scorer Gavin Schairer (1,504) in the process on Senior Night.

"It means a lot knowing that this is my last game on my home court," Schutta said. "I would have liked to break it, but it's still an unbelievable feeling."

Schutta's 2 free throws with 23 seconds left gave Central (22-2, 9-0) a 4-point lead and tied the school record.

However, after Marengo (13-10, 4-5) missed 2 shots at the other end, Schutta was called for his fifth foul on the rebound attempt with 10 seconds left.

Marengo missed the subsequent free throws, however, and another shot in the final seconds as the Rockets prevailed.

Central was whistled for 23 fouls while Marengo was called for 17. The Rockets made 14 of 28 from the foul line. The Indians made 13 of 22 free throws.

"It was a very, very physical game both ways and they played very well," Central coach Brett Porto said. "I thought at times we didn't execute as good as we can defensively. Offensively, we got a lot of the shots when we wanted them. We could have been a little bit cleaner at the free throw line and cleaned some up at the defensive end and I thought I thought maybe it would have went more in our favor."

Central led 40-31 at halftime but Marengo used a 16-1 run to take a 3-point lead. Alejandro Rodriguez's inside bucket with 6:09 left tied the game 51-51. His 2 free throws with 5:15 left staked the Indians to a 54-51 lead.

Central drew within a point on a drive to the basket by Patrick Mayfield with 1:45 left. Mayfield then gave the Rockets the lead for good by sinking 2 free throws with 1:19 to play.

Desjani Beamon then stole the ball at midcourt and was fouled on the layup attempt. He split 2 free throws with 38 second to play, setting up Schutta's record-tying free throws.

"We always have a target on our backs," said Schutta, whose team hasn't lost since Dec. 3. "We always have to know what's coming for us: every team is going to give us their best game so we have to come out and show them who we are."

Senior guard Blaine Borhart led Marengo with 13 points while Rodriguez contributed 10 points and 6 rebounds.

Mayfield finished with 15 points and Will Hough sank a pair of 3-pointers as part of a 10-point performance. Beamon finished with 8 points and 3 steals.

  Burlington Central's Patrick Mayfield and Marengo's Brock Bertrand battle Tuesday in a boys basketball game in Burlington. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Burlington Central's Dejsani Beamon steals the ball from Marengo's Blaine Borhart Tuesday in a boys basketball game in Burlington. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Burlington Central's Michael Kalusa reaches for a loose ball over Marengo's Nick Wascher Tuesday in a boys basketball game in Burlington. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Burlington Central's Zach Schutta battles with Marengo's Matt Fischer and Aidan Kirchner Tuesday in a boys basketball game in Burlington. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Burlington Central's Javyon Johnson charges into Marengo's Alexander Schirmer in the first half Tuesday in a boys basketball game in Burlington. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
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