Physical play of Genenbacher, Huston give Panthers edge in sectional semifinal victory

WAVERLY, Ill. — With two older brothers who were all-state football players, Agnes Genenbacher really had no option other than to be tough and know how to take a tumble.

“That’s my nature,” she said.

Going against them also taught her to be competitive.

“I always want to be the best in everything I do,” Genenbacher said.

Tuesday, she was as determined and aggressive as any player on the floor during the Central-Southeastern girls basketball team’s 58-22 victory over Staunton in the semifinals of the Class 2A Waverly Sectional, but she wasn’t alone in giving the Panthers a physical presence and spark.

Claire Huston was just as gritty and determined.

Their combined effort, which included diving on the floor for loose balls and sliding into the chairs on both sidelines, resulted in holding the Bulldogs to six points in the first quarter and just three points in the third quarter. In fact, Staunton didn’t score the first 5:30 of the second half when CSE’s 14-point halftime advantage ballooned to 32 points by the start of the fourth quarter.

“Seeing them play like that, it makes you want to give a little bit more,” said CSE senior forward Lauren Miller, who finished with a game-high 22 points. “It really brings up the energy of the team. I think it creates chemistry, knowing your teammates are willing to put their body on the floor and on the line for you.”

Genenbacher, a junior, and Huston, a senior, continually do that.

“When they going flying across the floor, kids like Miller, (Karly) Peters and (Amanda) Stephens see how hard they are playing for them and it makes them pick it up,” said CSE coach Matt Long, whose Panthers (29-3) will face Pleasant Plains (26-6) in the sectional championship at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. “It’s a very selfless team. They’re humble. They’re there for each other. They know exactly what their role is and they go in night in and night out and do what they do.”

That’s create havoc.

“Getting the ball and being physical, I grew up doing that,” said Genenbacher, who finished with four points and likely had more floor burns. “Claire is always out there getting a little dirty, getting on the floor. The same thing happened in volleyball. We were always getting on the floor trying to make plays.”

The end result is added energy.

“The bench goes crazy. Coaches get hyped. The crowd goes wild.,” Genenbacher said.

In a tide-turning moment, Long expects Genenbacher or Huston to make a play.

“We call them 50/50 balls unless one of them is around it,” Long said. “Then it’s 100/0 because it is going to be ours.”

It’s how they were taught to play the game.

“Getting contact, being physical, I love it,” Genenbacher said.