Centennial guard Jaycie Gerding said her Cougars still haven’t played to their full potential despite earning a another victory over a ranked team on Monday night.

“What you’re seeing right now is going to be even better (at the season’s end)” Gerding said.

The Cougars have a great foundation to build on with a 63-54 home victory over an Eden Prairie team ranked No. 10 in Class 4A by Minnesota Basketball News.

The Cougars upset No. 1-3A Park Center 69-68 on Dec. 11.

Gerding doesn’t mind the underdog role. 

“This year we’ve had to prove a lot of people wrong, and that’s our biggest goal,” Gerding said. 

Gerding, a senior in her fourth varsity season, scored 14 points in the win, but her leadership on the floor might be her greatest asset, Cougars coach Greg Amundson said. 

“She does a great job with leadership,” Amundsen said. “She just takes care of the ballgame.”

Gerding did take care of the ballgame, helping Centennial extend its 29-25 halftime lead. She used her superior ball handling to break the high-pressure defense Eden Prairie employed in the second half, dribbling past Eagles and dishing to open teammates.

Gerding’s late-game passing allowed the Cougars maintain possession of the ball and run time off the clock, extinguishing the comeback hopes of the Eagles. 

She is also the voice of a team that features 18 underclassmen, including seven freshmen. 

“She’s a great captain,” sophomore center Sarah Grow said. “She leads both vocally and by example.”

Grow, who finished with 16 points, hit several key free throws late in the game to help Centennial hold on for the victory. 

Amundson said he’s pleased with the effort put forth by his team in the victory. 

“We’ve been waiting for (our kids) to play hard the whole game,” Amundson said. “(Tonight), we were able to do that.”

The Cougars could move back into the Class 4A top-10 rankings - the Cougars were No. 9 in the preseason poll.

Centennial, however, is not worried about rankings or records but focused on improving, Gerding said.

“(We’re) a work-in-progress,” she added. “We build every single day.”

Sophomore center Sarah Grow made four free throws late in the second half to help Centennial upset No. 10-4A Eden Prairie 63-54 in a nonconference game Monday night at Centennial High School.

Grow finished with 16 points for the Cougars, who knocked off a ranked opponent for the second time in 11 days. Centennial recorded a 69-68 victory over Park Center, ranked No. 1 in Class 3A by Minnesota Basketball News, on Dec. 11. 

The Cougars overcame a second-half surge by the Eagles behind the play of senior guard Jaycie Gerding.

Eden Prairie employed a press with time winding down, but Gerding’s ability to consistently break the press and find open teammates in the gaps of the Eagles’ defense helped Centennial hold a lead and run time off the clock.

Gerding finished with 14 points and sophomore guard Paige Comer added 11 for the Cougars (4-3).

Senior forward Emma Boehm scored a game-high 19 points for the Eagles (4-3).

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