12/23/2024
BY JACK BULLOCK
DONGOLA – When you look at the match up on Monday night between Century and the host Demons in the final game of the Dongola Christmas Tournament, it was a matchup of “Youth versus Experience.”

In this instance, experience was the deciding factor as the older ones proved tough to beat.

The Centurions, with a group of seniors and juniors taking care of business, brushed off the young Dongola team, to win their second-consecutive Dongola title.

Coach Jake Parr's club forced seven of Dongola's 21-turnovers in the second quarter, breaking a 12-12 first quarter stalemate to turn the game into a rout at 42-27 at halftime.

The Demons, led by mentor Russ Marsh, opened that second frame with a score to take a brief lead.

But with four-straight turnovers on the next four possessions, Dongola fell behind quickly.

The Centurions used a late 10-0 run to secure the halftime margin.

Dongola would get no closer than 14-points in the final two quarters.

“We played a team (Dongola) that has been playing very well recently. Early they were playing at their pace and I called a timeout and told the kids we need to get back to what we do,” said Coach Parr. “Pressure the ball, get some turnovers and get some easy layups in transition. I know that we need to pressure the ball and we can go on an 8-0 run or 10-0 run by just our defense. Our defense can help out our offense.”

Century was led 5-10 senior Caden Crain with 27-points.

Senior guard Samuel Perez added 21-points, despite missing some minutes in the second quarter with foul trouble.

Senior Jael Solomon pitched in nine-points to the total.

Sophomore Landyn Walshon added eight-points for Century, who are now 12-2 on the season.

Junior Adam Taake (six) and junior Drew Dillow (four) rounded out the scoring for the winners.

Century nailed down 11 3-pointers in the game with Crain and Perez each dialing up from outside four times each.

Dongola got 23-points from 6-1 sophomore Caleb Gaddis and 15-points from 5-8 freshman Isaiah Lieberman in the loss as the Demons are now 6-7 on the season.

Junior Daniel Holderfield scored seven-points and sophomore Eyen Sheppard added six.

The Demons came out and played even with Century in the early going.

Buckets by Gaddis and Holderfield early gave Dongola a 10-7 lead.

But Perez nailed a couple of 3-pointers in the first frame and a rebound basket by Crain evened the score at 12-12 at the end of the first quarter.

Liberman began the second quarter with a 3-pointer from the right wing to give Dongola back the lead at 15-12.

Century took command the rest of the quarter.

Crain took an assist from Perez and scored inside and then grabbed a rebound for another score and a 16-15 lead with 6:42 left in the half.

A driving score off glass by Taake forced Coach Marsh to burn a timeout down 18-15.

(CONTINUED)

Runs of 6-0 and 10-0 to close out the half doomed the Demons.

Steals and scores by Solomon and Crain and back-to-back baskets inside by Dillow and Crain pushed the lead to 29-19.

The final run was produced by five-points each from Perez and Solomon.

Each hit from long range and they both converted fast break lay ins as they led at the break.

The Demons hit just 5-of-15 shots in the second quarter while Century nailed down 13-of-18 to take control.

“Against a team like Century, we go a quarter or a quarter and a half against them and then they put some pressure on us and we throw the ball away,” said Coach Marsh. “We're inexperience and a lot of these kids haven't been taught the fundamentals. But we have improved. I think the future looks bright for them.”

Coach Parr's team didn't let off of the pedal in the third quarter.

Another scoring run triggered by a four-point play by Crain, who was fouled on a made 3-point attempt, which also included a 3-pointer from Crain and a steal and fast break score by Perez which turned in another four-point play after being fouled.

The made free throw made it 54-30 at the 5:41 mark.

Gaddis scored eight of his points in the third quarter and his rebound score cut the Century lead to 59-44 heading to the fourth quarter.

The Centurions added three additional made 3-pointers in the final quarter to secure the squad's second tournament title of 2024-25.

Walshon hit a trey from the right corner to start the final frame and Perez added seven-points on a pair of scores and another 3-pointer.

Consecutive 3-point scores from Perez and Crain closed the Century victory.

“Samuel (Perez) and Caden (Crain) have combined for 10-plus made 3-pointers on several occasions this year,” said Coach Parr. “Those two guys really help us go on the offensive end.”

The Centurions hit 30-of-70 field goal attempts, 11-of-30 from long range while Dongola was 22-of-51, 3-of-10 from the arc.

Century held a 37-32 rebounding edge with the most important part of the board battle being that the Centurions held Dongola to just four offensive rebounds in the first three quarters.

Coach Parr will take his club into the Cobden Holiday Tournament this week with a game Thursday morning at 11:30 am against Zeigler-Royalton.

“That happens with veteran guys. Guys that have been playing together for a while and believe in each other,” said Coach Parr. “I expected this game to tight, especially early on. Now we look forward to the next tournament at Cobden.”

Ironically the Demons next game isn't until January 9th when they will host Century.

“I'm pretty happy with my team. We basically (age-wise) have a JV team. Our kids hustle and play hard, we just turn the ball over too much,” said Coach Marsh, who doesn't have a senior on the roster with two juniors, three sophomores and five freshmen in the whole program. “We're going to get better.”

Junior Damarion Clark scored 36-points and senior Kendrick Williams hit two free throws with :07.4 remaining to give the Pharaohs the win.

Williams finished with 15-points for Egyptian.

Joppa-Maple Grove (0-13) nearly sent the game into overtime but a missed shot at the buzzer sent Coach Greg Harris' club to a heartbreaking defeat in the third place game.

The Rangers were paced by senior Marcus Stallings with 20-points and sophomore Aiden Messer with 12.

Senior Brandon Pease added nine-points for Joppa-Maple Grove.

Clark hit 13-of-16 free throws with Williams hitting 7-of-15 from the line, including the two that sent the Pharaohs home with the triumph.

Egyptian will play Cairo in the first game of the Cobden Holiday Tournament at 10 am Thursday morning.

The Rangers next contest will be on January 2nd at home against these same Pharaohs.