Staff writer
After trailing by as much as 12 points Friday against the Wakefield Bombers, the Centre High School boys’ basketball team staged a turnaround that resulted in a 75-62 victory.
Playing at home, they trailed 5-15 after the first quarter. They trailed, 8-20, in the second quarter, but good shooting by Trevor Hageberg, Kordell Harding, Ty Simons, and Kyle Methvin narrowed the gap to 7 points, 25-32, by halftime.
The comeback continued in the third quarter as James Wyatt scored 10 consecutive points, including 2 baskets from outside the arc to bring Centre within 2, 38-40.
A 3-pointer by Justin Deines followed by a field goal by Simons gave the Cougars their first lead of the game, 43-42. Wakefield retook the lead one more time in the following possession, but a 3-pointer by Deines made the score 46-44. From then on, the game went in Centre’s favor.
After two free throws by Harding, Deines scored another 10 points in the first half of the fourth quarter. In the final two minutes, 30 seconds, the Cougars went to the free-throw line 10 times. Deines, Hageberg, Wyatt, Grant Srajer, and Simons combined for 13 points from the line, contributing to a satisfying 13-point victory.
The team scored 22-of-42 from the field and 22-of-38 from the free-throw line.
Four players scored in double digits: Deines, 21; Wyatt, 14; Simons, 12; and Hageberg, 10. Harding had 6 points, Srajer 6, and Kyle Methvin 4.
Hageberg had 9 rebounds, followed by Wyatt with 8. Hageberg also had 2 blocked shots.
Flint Hills Christian
Friday’s victory followed a win earlier in the week at Flint Hills Christian School in Manhattan. The Cougars defeated Flint Hills, 60-54.
They got off to a quick start, leading after one quarter, 19-8, on field goals by Simons, Deines, Wyatt, Harding, and Hageberg. Shane Methvin added two free throws.
Flint Hills closed in on the Cougars in the second quarter, outscoring Centre, 14-9. Centre led, 28-22, at halftime.
Simons and Kyle Methvin each scored 7 points in the third quarter, along with a 3-pointer by Srajer and a field goal by Shane Methvin to outscore Flint Hills, 20-13.
The Cougars were outscored 19-12 in the fourth quarter. All of Centre’s points were earned from the free-throw line. Simons and Deines each made 5 free throws and Harding had 2, enough points to give Centre a 6-point victory.
The Cougars shot 19-of-54 from the field and 18-of-24 from the free-throw line.
Simons led the team in scoring, with 23 points. Other scoring totals were Deines, Harding, and Kyle Methvin, 7 each; Trevor Hageberg, 6; Shane Methvin, 5; Srajer, 3; and Wyatt, 2.
Kyle Methvin accumulated 10 rebounds and 2 blocks to lead at the boards.