Basketball Game Preview: Cozad Haymakers vs. Centura Centurions

The Cozad Haymakers will head out to square off against the Centura Centurions at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. One thing working in Cozad's favor is that they have posted at least 55 points in their last seven games.

On Thursday, Cozad needed a bit of extra time to put away Gothenburg. They came out on top in a nail-biter against the Swedes, sneaking past 62-59. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Haymakers have posted since February 22, 2024.

Cozad's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Noah Shoemaker led the charge by going 7 of 14 on his way to 22 points and five boards. With that strong performance, Shoemaker is now averaging an impressive 15.2 points per game. Chayden Hoffmaster was another key player, dropping a double-double on 13 points and ten rebounds.

Meanwhile, Centura was not able to break out of their rough patch on Friday as the team picked up their fourth straight loss. They took a 44-37 hit to the loss column at the hands of Centennial. While the Centurions didn't get the win, they did start the game off strong, beating the Broncos 14-7 in the first quarter.

Cozad pushed their record up to 11-2 with the victory, which was their 11th straight at home dating back to last season. As for Centura, their defeat dropped their record down to 5-7.

Everything came up roses for Cozad against Centura when the teams last played back in February of 2024, as the squad secured a 65-37 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for Cozad since the team won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.