CENTER POINT – Defense has been the identity of the Center Point-Urbana girls basketball team all season, and Saturday night’s Class 3A Region 4 quarterfinal was no different. The Stormin’ Pointers leaned on relentless pressure and balanced minutes to overwhelm Charles City 55-16, advancing comfortably while already turning their attention toward the next test on the road to state.
The (14-8) Pointers wasted little time setting the tone against the (1-20) Comets. From the opening tip, CPU’s defensive intensity dictated the pace, forcing turnovers, contesting shots, and limiting Charles City to just four total points in the first half.
For first-year head coach Nate Kellogg, games like Saturday’s can present a unique challenge.
“Games like that are hard to prep and get up for as we knew who Charles City was,” Kellogg said. “It was nice to get the win and not put a lot of wear and tear on our top girls.”
That mindset showed early.
Even with heavy rotation minutes in the first half, CPU’s defensive intensity never dipped. The Pointers jumped out to a 17-2 lead after one quarter, forcing turnovers and contesting nearly every Charles City shot attempt. The Comets struggled to find any offensive rhythm, managing just two points in the opening frame.
The second quarter brought more of the same. CPU’s pressure defense again limited Charles City to just two points in the period, giving the Comets only four total points in the entire first half. Meanwhile, the Pointers steadily built their advantage, pushing the lead to 28-4 with under three minutes remaining before the break.
Emily Goebel capitalized on extended minutes, leading the team with eight first-half points while also creating havoc defensively with multiple steals. Kaitlyn Beck added a three-pointer during the second-quarter surge, showcasing the depth that has become a strength for the Pointers down the stretch of the season.
One constant throughout the winter has been CPU’s defensive consistency, and Saturday was no exception. The Pointers held Charles City to single digits in every quarter, continuing a season-long emphasis on stopping opponents’ offensive rhythm.
Kyra White set the tone coming out of halftime. She recorded two quick steals and converted a layup to open the third quarter, stretching the advantage to 34-4. Charles City responded briefly, scoring four quick points — matching its entire first-half total — to trim the deficit to 35-8.
It would be the Comets’ final push.
CPU answered with another run fueled by defense and transition play. Grace DeSmet drilled a three-pointer at the end of the third quarter to extend the lead to 50-8, triggering a continuous running clock that had been in effect since midway through the period.
With the game firmly in hand, Kellogg continued to rotate players and manage minutes with an eye toward Wednesday’s semifinal matchup. Brooklyn Wyckoff added a fourth-quarter three-pointer, and DeSmet contributed a highlight-reel block as the Pointers cruised to the 39-point victory.
“We went deeper than we had all season in the first half with focus on Crestwood Wednesday night,” Kellogg said.
While pleased with the defensive effort and balanced contributions, Kellogg acknowledged there is still room for improvement heading deeper into regional play.
“Our finishing around the hoop needs to be better with our starting rotation moving forward, which is something we will address in practice,” he said. “We missed a lot of good looks early, but when rotating in players consistently that is not always easy.”
Saturday’s win reinforced what has carried CPU to 14 victories this season — relentless defense, unselfish play, and depth throughout the roster. Allowing just four first-half points in a postseason contest speaks volumes about the identity this group has built.
Now, the focus quickly shifts to a stiffer test in the regional semifinals.
With momentum on their side and fresh legs thanks to balanced minutes, the Stormin’ Pointers will look to lean once again on their defense as they continue their pursuit of a state tournament berth.
Game statistics were not available at press time.