STORM LAKE—Guard Adam Flinn (junior, St. Louis, Mo., Lafayette HS) rained in 33 points but Central College's 11-point halftime lead was vaporized by a 68-point Buena Vista University second half in a season-ending 97-85 defeat Wednesday.
           
A young, injury-riddled club closed at 5-20 overall and 2-14 in American Rivers play.
           
Flinn knocked down six 3-point baskets in pumping in his second-highest point total of the season. He also passed out five assists and made four steals.
           
"Adam Flinn was in the zone," coach Craig Douma said. "He tried to carry us to a win. That was a heck of an offensive performance."
           
The Dutch raced to a 40-29 halftime lead but Buena Vista (18-6 overall, 9-6 conference) roared out of the gates after the break with a 29-9 run. The Beavers hit a scorching 64.7% from the field in the second half. Central nearly matched that showing, shooting 60.0% both from the field and the 3-point line in the half but was again dominated on the offensive glass, 13-4, and outrebounded 40-24 overall. Central also committed 19 turnovers.
           
Buena Vista outshot Central for the game,53.1% to 52.9% but the Dutch connected on 57.1% of their 3-point shots (16-28). Yet Central struggled to a mundane 15 of 24 from the free throw line (62.5%).
           
"We shot the ball pretty well," Douma said. "But we had way too many turnovers. We gave up too many offensive rebounds, which has been a common thread throughout the season, and we did not shoot free throws well. Those things hurt us."
           
Forward Caden Mauck (junior, Kansas City, Mo., Blue Springs South HS) had 12 points and eight rebounds while forwards Jaden Moody (senior, Cambridge, Ballard HS) and Keaton Rodgers (freshman, Peoria, Ariz., Sandra Day O'Connor HS) each had 10 points.
           
Moody, the team's lone senior and a returning all-conference player, was among those hit by injury and his absence dealt the Dutch a crippling blow. He was sidelined Dec. 4 and returned Feb. 5 for the final five games but was on restricted minutes. Moody had a frustrating finish as he watched much of the second half Wednesday from the bench with foul trouble.
           
"I really felt bad for Jaden," Douma said. "That hurt us. It was a tough way for him to go out."
           
Yet Douma raved about Moody's leadership on and off the court throughout the campaign.
           
"He's been a key component for us, not only this season but in what our team will be like down the road," he said. "His leadership is having a big impact on this program."
           
While the Dutch endured growing pains, improved health and a productive off-season should yield better results next year in returning the team to its traditional role as a contender, Douma said.
           
"We've got some younger kids who grew up a lot," he said. "We had several freshmen who played a lot and some sophomores, too. Next season starts now and we've got to go to work."