Bussey tallies 28 points as Irish defeat Cougars
2/8/2012Central Catholic junior Cliff Bussey scored 28 points to lead the Irish to a 66-55 victory Tuesday night over Southview in a boys basketball.
"Coach [Jim] Welling told us to attack," Bussey said. "On defense he told us to pick it up and just get it to your man."
Junior Keith Towbridge added 12 points for Central.
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Senior Jordan Hunt led the Cougars with 20 points, followed by senior Allen Gant with 10 points.
Southview (5-10) put the pressure on Central (13-3) in the first quarter and took an early lead of 10-6 with four points from Hunt.
Gaylon Hughes and Bussey put Central ahead by two points. Bussey scored off a rebound after a missed free throw giving the Irish a five- point lead.
"We've been working really hard on being consistent," Central Catholic coach Jim Welling said. "Especially on the defensive side of the floor."
The Irish ended the first quarter with a 10-point lead over the Cougars.
Towbridge and Bussey opened up the second quarter with baskets, respectively, adding to the Irish's lead. Gant came back to score a 3-point field goal for the Cougars.
"There's nothing that Central did that scares me in any way, shape, or form," Southview coach Marc Jump said. "I left the game feeling totally frustrated."
The Irish scored 16 points in the third quarter against the Cougar's 11, and Southview couldn't make up the deficit in the end.
"This is time for teams to get better and understand both ends of the floor. It's about consistency," Welling said.
Central goes on the road to play Lima Senior on Friday.
"It's going to be very similar to this," he said. "They're quick, they're athletic."
Contact Ashley Streichert at astreichert@theblade.com or 419-206-0356.