The score started getting tight late in the Community R-6 girls’ Friday night game at home against Sturgeon.

Community R-6 Senior Night Photo Gallery

The Central Activities Conference foe who had lost to the Lady Trojans twice fell a third time as Community won 59-52. On Senior Night, Kylie Brooks led the Lady Trojans (19-4, 7-1 CAC) with 24 points and 15 rebounds to complement 22 points and five steals from senior Sarah Angel.

Sturgeon (6-15, 2-5 CAC) was as close as 44-42 about halfway through the fourth quarter and even had a 37-36 lead with about two minutes left in the third quarter. Head coach Bob Curtis said Community consistently made it to the free throw line and usually converted, finishing 20-for-34 instead of the 17-for-36 Friday night 44-43 win against Pilot Grove. Angel and Brooks had the bulk of those trips as Angel went 11-for-16 and Brooks finished 8-for-14.

Brooks finished with double-digit rebounds in all three games with Sturgeon this season, pulling down 15 as part of a 16-point double-double and then 11 boards in the next matchup before her "career game," according to Curtis.

“We were better at the free throw line tonight then we were Friday (against Pilot Grove),” Curtis said. “Kylie Brooks had a monster game. She really dominated tonight. She hit about half of (her free throws), and if she could do that, that really makes those possessions where we got something out of it rather than open-ended.”

Community led 31-23 at halftime after the Lady Trojans went on an 11-0 run and held Sturgeon with a basket in about four minutes. Sturgeon refused to go away, partly because of seven 3-pointers — four by Riley West for her 12 points and three by Allie Heath for part of her 13 points. Curtis said the Lady Trojans executing in certain moments helped.

Senior Kayla Jett knocked down a 3-pointer to make it 47-42, and senior Olivia Kuda had an offensive putback down the stretch for one of her 10 rebounds. After Angel missed the second of two free throws with the Community lead at 55-52, Brooks swooped in for the offensive putback that preceded a 3-point play.

“Big kudos to my seniors. Kayla Jett, Olivia Kuda and Sarah Angel had great games on Senior Night,” Curtis said. “They are great examples, and kids that are really solid leaders. Sarah’s in the 1,000-point club, and all three of those kids have been to the Final Four as freshmen. The veteran leadership from them this year they’ve been there, done that.”

Angel said she and Brooks have put a lot of work in practice to fine-tune their free throw shooting, which helped knock off Sturgeon. She said being solid on defense also played a part and helped set up the Lady Trojans for easy buckets to surpass the 40 points in the first two victories against the Lady Bulldogs.

“A lot of them can score,” Angel said. “Sturgeon is a really solid offensive team, so I think it helped us to switch defenses pretty often in the game. I think that helped us out a lot.”

With two games between the Sturgeon contest and districts, Angel said it was nice to take some time after the girls game to reflect on the four years for her and the other two senior Lady Trojans. She, Jett, Kuda and the boys basketball and cheerleading seniors were recognized on the court.

“It’s like a bittersweet moment, of course,” Angel said. “We’ve made a lot of memories, and I’m sad it’s coming to an end, but I’m really happy with everything we’ve accomplished over our four years.”

Community played at conference foe Glasgow (9-12, 3-4 CAC) at 6 p.m. Friday before facing Class 2 No. 3 and conference opponent Cairo (19-3, 6-0 CAC) again at 6 p.m. Tuesday at home after losing 50-24 the first time.