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BATESVILLE – East Central girls basketball took a major step toward repeating as Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference champion – and a possible first solo crown for the school since 1998 – with Thursday's 61-48 win.

After trailing top league contender and host Batesville (12-4, 6-2) EIAC by eight points early in the third quarter, coach Kevin Moore's Lady Trojans (now 12-3, 7-0) went to their strengths – defense and rebounding – to dominate to the final buzzer.

“To win a conference championship you have to win on the road, “ said Moore, whose 2011-12 team shared the league title with Franklin County. “That's no easy task, especially against a quality opponent like Batesville.”

Senior guard and two-time conference MVP Jenna Hountz topped the Trojans with 16 points, including four big three-point bombs, five steals, four deflections, three assists.

Six-foot-two freshman center Allie McCool, held to two first-half points with some foul trouble, came on strong down the stretch to finish with a double-double (11 points, 12 rebounds).