Caudell's hot shooting helps Mitchell beat PC

LEOPOLD - Austin Caudell made 13 of 15 shots from the field as Mitchell beat Perry Central 68-55 in PLAC boys basketball Saturday.

"We came out flat in the first and third quarter," said Perry Central Coach Matt Carter.

He also said the Commodores "were soft underneath tonight. We have to toughen up. We were getting abused in there. They had eight offensive rebounds and got fouled on every one."

Despite the lack of intensity, the Commodores made a run at Mitchell in the fourth quarter.

The Bluejackets had built a 16-point lead but Perry Central cut it to five, 60-55, as Nick Huber made a field goal with 1:28 left.

Huber scored 13 of the Commodores' 16 fourth-quarter points.

He finished with a game-high 35 points and 11 rebounds. He hit 13 of 25 shots from the field.

The Bluejackets tried to slow him down with a box-and-one on him and a 1-3 with the other player on him.

"He was the only one who shot over 50 percent from the field," said Carter. "We have to have others step up."

Perry Central hit 19 of 53 from the field for 35.9 percent. Mitchell made 25 of 47 for 53.2 percent.

Caudell, a 6-foot-3 senior forward, led the Bluejackets with 29 points.

He scored 15 in the second quarter, including the final 11 points of the half.

Six of his points that quarter came on rebound baskets, as the Commodores had difficulty blocking out the Bluejackets.

The Bluejackets scored the first nine points of the third quarter while holding the Commodores scoreless for the first three minutes.

Caudell made a field goal and two free throws and Eubanks made a field goal and a three-point shot, extending the Bluejackets' lead to 48-31 with 5:12 left in the third quarter.

Caudell and Evan Sanders each had seven rebounds to lead Mitchell.

Perry Central fell to 8-5 overall and 1-2 in the PLAC.

The Bluejackets improved to 5-6 overall and 2-3 in the conference.

Perry Central will play another PLAC game at Craw-ford County Friday at 7 p.m.

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Perry Central defeated Mitchell 38-22 in the junior varsity game as Alex Rogier had 12 points and nine rebounds.

Reuben Y. Schwartz added 11 points and four steals for the 8-4 Commodores.