Game 1 | 10 AM

Rock Island Alleman vs. Davenport Central

Points By Quarter

Final	1st QTR	2nd QTR	3rd QTR	4th QTR	Total
Alleman	12	9	7	9	37
Central	20	16	18	18	72

Game Summary

Led by a balanced offensive attack, stifling defense, and commanding presence on the glass, Davenport Central controlled the game from start to finish.

Junior guard Carter Light set the tone early for the Blue Devils, draining a three-pointer midway through the first quarter to spark an 8-0 run. His 13 points paced four Blue Devils finishing in double figures. Davenport Central continued to expand the lead in the second quarter behind the inside play of senior forward Maddox Sullivan, who tallied 11 rebounds on the night. The Blue Devils took a 36-21 advantage into halftime.

Alleman senior guard DJ Baker tried to rally his team in the second half, scoring 10 of his team-high 10 points after intermission. But Davenport Central had an answer every time the Pioneers threatened, led by guard Giovanni Hayslett’s 9 second-half points. The Blue Devils' stifling defense forced 16 Alleman turnovers leading to a number of transition buckets. Davenport Central’s lead ballooned to as many as 35 points in the second half as they cruised to victory.

BOX Score

Game Preview by Steve Tappa, Shootout Historian

Both schools feature new head coaches who worked together on the Black Hawk men's basketball coaching staff in the late 1990s. Central's Troy Muilenburg, a standout at rival West, Northern Iowa in college and Australia in the pros, has returned home after compiling a 339-334 record in 23 years heading up the Ellsworth Junior College men's program. On the opposite bench is Alleman's Scott Morel, who, before coming home to his alma mater, was Louisa-Muscatine's girls' coach (2013-16) in between stints assisting either the BHC men or women. ... Morel's Pioneers return three starters from last season -- seniors Ryan Schmidt (guard) and Daniel VanDeHeede (forward), plus junior swingman D.J. Baker. The latter is receiving Division-2 and JUCO recruiting interest, according to Morel. Muilenburg's Blue Devils are rebuilding after two senior starters graduated and last season's top three scorers transferred to other MAC schools. Juniors Jordan Smith and Elias Vargas have shouldered the scoring load so far. Sophomore starter Carter Light anchors a youth movement that includes sophomores Giovanni Hayslett and Zayne Bowen, plus freshman Jassiah Harris.