Peacock Toilers Knock Wind Out Of Central Cyclones

Photos and Story by Robert Thomas

Whenever Peacock Collegiate and Central Collegiate meet in competition the cross town rivalry always seems to be simmering and then comes to a boil in an epic showdown.

The same could be said about Tuesday evening as the Peacock Toilers defeated the Central Cyclones 88 - 74 in high school senior boys basketball action.

It was a game where the Cyclones would seemingly dominate the early going.

With Mason Muchowski seemingly effortlessly making baskets a main factor for the team's early strength.

The Cyclones would take a one point lead into the second quarter. The score was Central 17 and Peacock 11 after one quarter of play.

The second quarter would see the Toilers starting to win the rebound battles by using their size and strength in the shape to dominate in rebounds.

The team’ s would go into the half time intermission with Peacock hold a two point 37 - 35 lead.

The third quarter would see the Toilers continue to use their size in close.

Mac Simpson and Josh Johnson would use their size and strength to dominate in the key. The pair would time and again end up winning the mini battles for possession and subsequent baskets.

The score heading into the final quarter was Peacock 57 and Central 49.

The fourth quarter would see both teams starting to run into penalty problems but the edge would go to Peacock as the Cyclones tried to stop their inside rushes inevitably putting the Toilers in free throw scoring.

The Cyclones for a few minutes at the end of the third quarter and fourth quarter start had a sign of life with a series of three pointers.

But once the shooting missed its mark the Toilers grabbed the rebounds going on to win 88 - 74.

“It was a good game it was two teams battling hard out there,” Peacock Toilers head coach Troy Setter said in the post game interview.

Despite the final score looking like the Toilers dominated play - the reality was something much different.

“Yeah it was a one or two possession game. It’s tough games when we play them all of the time. Both teams come out and play hard against each other,” Setter said.

Asked if he expected such a hard fought game he said it was to be expected whenever the two teams meet.

“It was just an intense battle. It was to be expected. The guys know each other when they play each other. It is going to be a battle every time they play."

“They are two evenly matched teams but it is whoever can make the one extra play who are going to come out on top,” Setter said.

Asked about the key match-up where Simpson and Earl Lamson faced off against each other on the court he said it was one of battles of the evening.

Both players drew fouls from one another the entire game with Simpson winning the key fourth quarter portion of the match-up.

“They battled well against one another all game. It was fun to watch them battle.”

Size wasn’t everything in the game though.

“The boys played big inside but it all started with our guards outside. They took care of the ball outside today and moved it around and made it all work for the guys inside. Kudos for our guards today,” he said

With the Toilers now on the Christmas break he said there are no intensive plans or practices over the holidays “just eating turkey.”