Schools
Boys Basketball: Central Sprints past the Falcons; 69-47
Central led by a slim margin after the first sixteen minutes, but the Knights tightened up on the defensive end and were able consistently put pressure on the Falcons in transition, outscoring the Falcons 42-23 in the second half.
Cranston West hosted Central on Friday evening, searching for its first league victory of the season and against a 2-0 Central squad. After a tight first half, the Knights exploded after intermission, with 14 fast break points in a 42-point second half barrage.
Both teams were implementing their zone defenses to perfection in the first half, helping well and doubling well in the interior, while limiting the first half output to 51 combined points. Offensive rebounds were also tough to come by, as both squads were stellar boxing out and controlling their respective defensive boards in the first half.
Cranston West fell behind by five but were able to gain the lead with a lay-up from Tevin Goins, two of his team leading eight points. Central would regain the lead on a Raikwon Rodrigues drive and again later on a Jarrell Lawson dunk. The Knights would lead by as many as six, but their lead would be cut to three by halftime, thanks to a triple from West Guard Tyler Fann, three of his six points in the half, as Central led 27-24 at halftime.
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Raikwon Rodrigues carried the load for Central in the first half, with 13 points while putting pressure on the defense and getting to the line, scoring five of his first half points from the strike.
"He led and we followed. He had the energy and we fed off of that. And that really propelled us," Central Coach Frank Rose said.
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Rodrigues would help his team get out to a quick start in the second half as well, scoring six points in a 12-6 Knights run, four of which came from the line. The Knights would then clamp down on the defensive end, utilizing their zone to force the Falcons into difficult shots and turnovers. And like any good team, the Knights turned their stout defense into explosive offense, scoring 14 points in transition in the final ten minutes of play.
"Once they couldn't get into their offense, we were off to the races," Rose said.
Central was able to coast to a 69-47 victory with tenacious defense and aggressive offensive play in the second half.
"We were able to limit their fast break opportunities in the first half. But in the second half we turned the ball over too many times and we stopped running back and they got lay-up after lay-up. They're too athletic. We can't afford that. They outran us in the second half," West Coach James Moretti said.
The Knights improve to 3-0 in league play and won't play again until January 3rd when they travel to East Providence.
The Falcons will have to wait a little longer for notch their first league victory, but will compete in the Coventry Credit Union Classic on Wednesday before traveling to Hope High School January 4th.
Top Scorers
West
Goins (8)
Gershkoff (7)
Central
Rodrigues (23)
Dennis (12)
