Girls Basketball: Van Buren 52, Central Lee 48

DONNELLSON ? Despite only three players scoring for the Van Buren girls? basketball team, the Warriors left Donnellson Friday with a 52-48 conference victory over Central Lee.

Central Lee ran out to a 10-6 lead after one quarter and entered the final period with a 40-34 lead. The Warriors outscored Central Lee 18-8 in the final quarter, however, and Van Buren escaped with the win in front of a rowdy crowd.

?They?re a good team. They?ll battle us along with Burlington-Notre Dame for the title,? Van Buren head coach Matt Zeitler said of Central Lee. ?Any time you go on the road and win in this deal you?re in good shape.?

Makenzie Zeitler led the Warriors with 28 points and seven steals. Jessica Saunders scored 15 points, while Hanna Haynes was just shy of a double-double with nine points and 13 rebounds. Paige Gaston tallied five assists and six steals despite going scoreless.

The win keeps Van Buren (5-0, 5-0 SEISC south) undefeated to begin the season and atop the SEISC South Division standings.

Van Buren is at home against New London Tuesday.

VAN BUREN ? Zeitler 12-16 7-17 28, Saunders 5-10 5-14 15, Haynes 1-4 4-5 9, Gaston 0-6 0-2 0, Billups 0-0 0-2 0, Total 18-36, 16-40 52

3-point goals ? Zeitler 2. Rebounds ? Haynes 13, Zeitler 7, Hughes 5. Assists ? Gaston 5, Zeitler 4. Steals ? Zeitler 7, Gaston 6. Blocks ? Haynes 3, Zeitler 2.