U-High extended its Corn Belt Conference winning streak to 23 games with a 72-41 win over Eureka. (WJBC file photo)

By Nick McClintock

EUREKA- What was supposed to be a close game between Cornbelt Conference leaders became yet another dominant victory for the U-High Pioneers, as they defeated the Eureka Hornets 72-41 Tuesday night.

The contest began as all expected, with a close first quarter ending with the Hornets ahead 16-13 over the Pioneers. Multiple missed shots and turnovers cost U-High early.

The second quarter began with an early basket by Eureka, but then was dominated by the Pioneers with a 12-2 run the finish the quarter and head into halftime with a five point, 25-20 lead.  

The third quarter started with the first three pointer by the Pioneers, which opened the floodgates as U-High dominated the third period with an astounding 26-7 run. In the quarter U-High hit five 3-pointers, led by Ohio State commit Keida Bates-Diop. U-High continued to dominate in the final quarter, once outscoring the Hornets 21-14 on the way to their 23^rd consecutive Cornbelt Conference win.

Leading all scorers was Bates-Diop, who finished with 18 points, Joe Johnson chipped in 14 points for the Pioneers.

U-High is now 9-0 in the Cornbelt, with an overall mark of 13-4, while Eureka drops to 13-4 overall with a 7-3 mark in conference play.