Central closed the contest with a 12-4 run to claim a 54-44 win over Salina in a Class 2A regional consolation bracket game on Thursday afternoon.
Afterward, head coach Michael Wynne was proud of the way his team battled.
"It's baseball weather outside and we've got some guys who are baseballers. When you get down to the last game, it would have been real easy for them to give in," said Wynne. "It was gut check time and they stepped up to the line."
The Tigers avoided elimination and were set to face Afton on Friday night in Muskogee.
Casey Dillard played a big role in keeping Central's season alive. The junior guard led the Tigers with 16 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter when he buried a pair of 3-pointers. Cianan Kutil sank 5-of-8 free throws in the final moments to help seal the win for Central.
Jace Coffman finished with 14 points and six rebounds for the Tigers. Robert Elk sank three treys and had 11 points. Kutil scored eight, Ryan Dodd four and Juan Tarin one.
"Robert Elk had a big first half, then had a little self-control problem at halftime and had to sit out the second half. I thought we had some guys do a good job of stepping up in his place," said Wynne.
"Jace Coffman played the way he's capable of playing. Casey Dillard had some foul trouble and had to sit out for a while, but came back and hit some big 3s. He hit two in a row and that kind of sparked us in the fourth quarter," added Wynne. "Jordan Pace took a big charge to wipe off a bucket. Cianan Kutil hit some big shots and Juan Tarin is coming on and playing like I thought he could. Ryan Dodd was as steady as ever."
Salina was led in scoring by James Scott with 13 points. Jared Salyers added 12 and Trevor Montgomery 10 for the Wildcats.
CENTRAL 44, SALINA 30 (G)
The Lady Tigers shut out Salina for the opening 11 minutes on Thursday afternoon and never trailed while knocking the Lady Wildcats out of the Class 2A regional playoffs.
Salina missed its first 12 shots of the game and didn't get on the scoreboard until midway through the second quarter. By then, Central's Jessica Walden had already scored nine points and the Lady Tigers were up by 15.
"We came out and executed really well and Jessica hit some shots early for us. We faltered a little bit, but came back and showed our true colors," said Central head coach Scott Lowe.
Salina rallied to within three late in the half, but Cheyenne Grabe scored from inside the lane and Emily Owens sank two free throws to put Central up 22-15 at the break.
"They came back on us, but we had some nice answers to those buckets. Cheyenne Grabe came in and hit a big shot on the block. She also stepped up with some big offensive rebounds at the end when it got kind of close," said Lowe.
Sophomore forward Shelby Morgan led Central with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Walden finished with 11 points and six boards. Owens added eight points, Grabe seven and Lauren Drake five.
Central advanced to a Friday evening game against Afton at the Muskogee Civic Center. The Lady Tigers also improved to 13-11.
"That assures a winning record for us and nobody thought that was going to happen," said Lowe. "The girls have done a good job."
