02/14/2025
BY JACK BULLOCK
FREEBURG - The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes the word “ownership” as “the state, relation, or fact of being an owner.”

When it comes to the boy's basketball in the Mississippi Division of the Cahokia Conference, the Breese Central Cougars hold all of the titles and deeds to the championship trophies from the past five seasons.

In fact, of the past 19 years since the conference split into divisions, the Cougars have won or shared 16 titles, with 13 of the championships outright.

Coach Jeremy Shubert's club added their fifth division title Friday night with a 62-41 road victory over Freeburg to improve to 9-0 in the league, 23-5 overall.

With a win next week against East Alton-Wood River, Breese Central will have their seventh undefeated division crown.

“I'm very proud of the boys. We had eight seniors last year and then having eight seniors coming back with only two guys with considerable experience (Rakers, Griffen Becker) played key roles for us last year, this is something special,” said Coach Shubert. “It's a conference game and we prepare for who ever it is. Our kids take pride in that. They wanted to win the championship and they accomplished that.”

Central used a couple of scoring runs to separate themselves from the Midgets, with a 19-0 scoring burst in the third quarter that carried over into the final frame being the knockout blow.

The first half belonged to 5-11 senior guard Kaden Rakers, who netted 22 of his 24-points in the first two quarters and his teammates took care of the rest.

Seniors Griffen Becker and Easton Becker added 12 and 10 respectively as eight of the Cougars scored points.

Freeburg and head coach Dakota Street played well early and hung close with the 2A state-ranked Central squad.

None of the Midgets hit for double-digits in the contest, as sophomore Dathan Krauss scored nine-points and senior Matt Pluff chipped in eight, to lead the now 11-19 team.

Pluff scored five of his points in the opening eight minutes and sophomore Brady Kerr added a basket early as Freeburg led 9-5 at the 3:06 mark of the first quarter.

But Central closed the frame with their first scoring run.

Thirteen consecutive points with three made 3-pointers from Rakers and a pair of drives to the basket by Griffen Becker made it 18-9 Cougars.

Rakers collected 12 more points in the second quarter with a conventional three-point play on a drive in the lane and his fourth 3-point bomb of the night on consecutive possessions for a 26-12 lead.

He was also fouled while attempting a 3-pointer and made 2-of-3 charities to go with his final points of the half on a jumper from the baseline.

Freeburg managed to keep the score respectable in the second quarter.

Freshman Joe Carmack scored five straight points on 3-of-4 free throws and a shot from mid-range.

A Krauss drive closed the half with the Midgets down just 33-22.

Behind their defensive effort in the third quarter, the Cougars took care of conference championship business by holding Freeburg to 3-of-10 shooting and forced a pair of turnovers to turn an eight-point advantage to a 56-29 lead.

(CONTINUED)

The Becker's scored 12 of the third quarter points for Breese Central.

Ethan scored seven of the points with a fast break score off a long rebound and assist from Griffen.

His 3-point bomb from the left corner closed the stanza scoring at 49-29 Cougars.

“The (scoring) runs are something that we haven't been able to stop this season. The kids haven't bought into the defensive end and that is something that we have to try and change around here,” said Coach Street. “We all want to take shots but we're not a bunch of shot makers yet. If we're not going to make shots then we have to figure out how to play harder on defense.”

Rakers final basket in the early part of the fourth quarter and a 3-pointer from senior Preston Baker were part of a 9-2 run that emptied the benches for the final 5:15 of contest.

“They (Freeburg) are much improved from when we played them in January,” said Coach Shubert. “We had to make some adjustments defensively and I give our kids credit for doing so. We just got to keep better because we have a tough regional coming up.”

Central hit 24-of-42 shots from the floor overall (57.1 percent) which included 7-of-15 from the arc.

The Cougars took care of the basketball with just three turnovers through the first three and a half quarter, six overall.

Freeburg hit just 14-of-41 from the field (34.1 percent), 3-of-10 from deep.

The one stat that Coach Shubert would have liked to be better was free throw shooting as Central hit just 7-of-17.

Freeburg was 11-of-14 from the stripe.

Central has a pair of games next week with EAWR and @ Alton Marquette to close out the regular season before heading to the brutal Carlyle Regional to face the winner of the first round game between Breese Mater Dei and Nashville.

That semifinal game will be played Wednesday, February 26.

Freeburg has a game next Tuesday at rival Columbia to close out the schedule before the 3A state tournament begins for the Midgets with a contest at Cahokia in the first round of the Waterloo Regional.

“We're still very young. At one point with had one freshman and two sophomores on the floor. The future is far brighter. When you play (young kids) you have to hope that things will get better in the future,” said Coach Street.