Central teams sweep Senior Night games from Gans, road games from Gore

Last week ended on a high note for the Central High School basketball teams.

The Central squads celebrated “Senior Night” with their “home” games against the Gans teams last Thursday night on Larry Ringgold Court at Bryant “Big Country” Reeves Fieldhouse by sweep both games as the Lady Tigers defeated the Lady Grizzlies 64-17, followed by the Tigers downing the Grizzlies 6038.

Last Friday, the Central teams picked up two more wins on the same night as they swept the host Gore squads. The Lady Tigers beat the Lady Pirates 47-37 and the Tigers defeated the Pirates 57-39.

In the Central girls’ win over Gans, the Lady Tigers (11-9), who trailed 2-0 early, ended the first quarter on a 15-2 run to take a 15-4 lead after a quarter, which became a 36-17 halftime advantage and a 53-27 lead going into the final period.

For the game, Central put a trio of players into double figures, led by Paris Campbell’s gamehigh 17 points, followed by Cambree Bair’s 16 points and Sara Williams with 12 points. Cheyenne Busch scored four points each, followed by Sadie Huff with three points and Brianna Taylor, Charlie Petree, Gracie Thompson and Sarah Buchanan with two points apiece.

In defeat, Skilynn Bird led the Lady Grizzlies (11-12) with 16 points, followed by Valan Harper with eight points, Brighton Dorsey with six points, Nora Barnes with five points and Madi Pilkington with three points.

In the Central boys’ victory over Gans, the Tigers (11-8) led 18-3 after a quarter and were never headed, as a running clock was used for the majority of the game.

For the contest, Central put a threesome into double figures, led by Aiden Cawhorn’s gamehigh 15 points, followed by Noah Buzzard’s 11 points and Kage Poindexter’s 10 points. Gavin Randolph and Cale Stewart scored nine points each, while Ryder Justice, Kiefer Bailey, Brycen Chandler-Eisman, Jace Money and Kaw-Liga Lewis scored two points apiece.

In defeat, Bryce Stevens led the Grizzlies (4-17) with 11 points, followed by Austin Hines with four points and Jessie Phillips with two points.

In the Central girls’ victory over Gore, the Lady Tigers doubled the Lady Pirates 12-6 in the first quarter, then used a 15-8 second period to take a 27-14 halftime lead, which became a 37-20 lead going into the fourth quarter.

For the game, Bair scored a game-high 16 points and Busch added 12 points to lead Central, followed by Williams with nine points, Campbell with four points, Taylor with three points, Buchanan with two points and Thompson with a free throw.

In defeat, Kennedy Williams, who led the Lady Pirates (108) with 10 points, reached the 500-rebound mark for her prep career. Rayleigh Moore scored eight points, followed by River Shoemake with six points, Emily Daily and Alevia Reasnor with five points each and Sophie O’Connor with three points.

In the Central boys’ win over Gore, the Tigers jumped out to a 21-10 lead after a period, which became a 34-18 halftime advantage and a 49-32 lead going into the fourth quarter.

For the game, Buzzard led Central with 20 points, followed by Josh Brunk with 13 points, Paitton Merrill with seven points, Randolph with six points, Cawhorn with four points, Bailey with three points and Jake Woods and Odell Parker with two points apiece.

In defeat, Cain Cooper scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Pirates (12-7), followed by Tate Brooksher with 15 points and Keeton Rowe with two points.