Game 2 | 11:45 AM | Sterling vs. Central

Sterling Defeats Central In Tight Contest

In their Genesis Shootout debut Sterling had one goal, maintain their sterling record. With their 61-57 victory over Davenport Central, Sterling joins Orion (2-0) and Dubuque Wahlert (1-0) as the only schools with unblemished Shootout records.

Sterling led the game for over 27 minutes and played just seven players, guided by leading scorer John Paul Schilling who played all 32 minutes and scored 22 points.

Central's Kaden Johnson scored 13 points in 27 minutes and was leading scorer for the Blue Devils.

Central out performed Sterling in field goal percentage, but this was a game settled at the free throw line. Sterling scored eight more points at the charity stripe and ultimately that was a deficit that Central could not overcome despite having a chance to take the lead with 0:30 to go.

Sterling's victory evens the Genesis Shootout at one game apiece for Iowa and Illinois.

Points By Quarter

FINAL	1st QTR	2nd QTR	3rd QTR	4th QTR	Total
Sterling	24	9	13	15	61
Central	15	15	16	9	57

Photos

Game Preview by Steve Tappa, Shootout Historian

Sterling makes its Shootout debut under Ryan Vasquez, the point guard in the 2000s when Illinois-Chicago coach Luke Yaklich was the Golden Warriors' head man before assistant stops at Illinois State, Texas, and Michigan. Tyree Kelly (3-year football starter) is the lone senior and junior J.P. Schilling is the only returning starter. Schilling, a third-year varsity starter, hit career highs in points with 25 and 31 in consecutive games earlier this season. Of the top 6 players on a young team, 3 are sophomores -- Andre Klaver, Lucas Austin, Carter Chance. ... Ryan Hill becomes the sixth former Shootout player to serve as a head coach in the event, debuting at his alma mater Central this season. Three regulars are back from last season -- junior Tracy Hayslett, and seniors Kaden Johnson and Donovan Wakefield. Johnson was the leading scorer with 24 points in the opener. New contributors include seniors Kellan Rush and Braxton Henderson, plus junior Charles Jones. At 6-foot-7, sophomore Anthony Gott is the tallest of a defensively lengthy Blue Devils squad. ... DYK: Central is tied with United Township for the most Shootout victories (15) despite playing four fewer games than the Panthers. The Blue Devils last Shootout loss was in 2014 to Riverdale (65-64).