By Tom Lanigan

Special to the K-V Dispatch

The Central High School varsity basketball teams both fell to tough opponents in the Conference 42 tournament, which concluded their seasons.

The Lady Chargers traveled to Middlesex last week and was defeated 52-32, while the boys team made it through the first round of the tournament by defeated Carver Academy 67-42. The boys team then fell 59-46 to Mathews on Thursday night.

The girls team started their playoff game by leading 9-8 after the first quarter; however, they could not rally after that.

Middlesex came back to steal the lead before halftime by outscoring Central 15-2. The Lady Chargers stepped up their game in the second half but were too far behind to catch up to Middlesex, who outscored Central 29-21 in that half.

Bri’Anna Johnson was the sole Lady Charger to make Second-Team All-Conference. She averaged 10 points and 15 rebounds per game on the season.

The Lady Chargers end their season with a 5-13 record.

“The Lady Chargers tentatively plan to return four starters and eight out-of-ten players from this year’s squad,” said coach Scott Wilson. “They should be one of the more experienced squads in Conference 42 next year.”

The Central boys team stomped Carver in its first-round conference playoff game.

During the first five minutes of the first quarter, both teams traded possessions and neither team could find the basket until Charger Jerimiah Davis stole the ball and nailed the basket for a two-point shot.

That ignited the fuse for the Chargers as they took control and Davis grabbed a Wolverines rebound and ran full court and added another two points to the board. The quarter ended with the Chargers on top 16–7.

The Chargers were treated to a fast-paced, aggressive style of play for the remainder of the game.

The Chargers came out in the second quarter with the wick turned up and forced turnovers as the Wolverines had to attempt hurry up shots which worked to the Chargers advantage.

L.J. Watson intercepted a Wolverines shot attempt and passed the ball full court to Darryl Jones who jammed the basket for two points. The Wolverines tried to make adjustments but the speedy Chargers kept the pressure up.

Early into the third quarter, the Wolverines ran into foul trouble and the Chargers capitalized on the free throws. The Chargers added more fuel to the fire by executing speedy team play and finding the basket by mixing up passes and hand offs revering direction and keeping the Wolverines defense backed up.

Midway through the fourth quarter the Wolverines were running out of steam, but they weren’t going away easy as they mounted an attack of their own and managed to steal the ball.

The comeback was short lived, however, as the Chargers quickly regrouped and successively blocked further shots at the basket as the ticking clock signaled time was running out for the Wolverines.

“We were clearly bigger and faster than Carver, we welcome the win, as we need all the help we can get. We will use the win and see if can continue to move forward” said head coach Mike McGrath, adding “Thankfully, we are healthy, everyone is ready.”

The leading scorers for the Chargers were Raymond Alexander (21), Davis (17) and Howard Drew (8).

The Central boys team also had several selection for All-Conference. Davis and Alexander made First-Team All-Conference. Watson made Second-Team All-Conference.

The boys team ends their season 10-11.