Central High School’s varsity boys basketball team benefited from some key returning players in the lineup Jan. 3 and edged visiting Prince Edward County High School 38-35 to claim its first win of the 2017-18 season.

“We finally got everybody back on the floor healthy, and we stuck to our game plan, made them play a half-court game and utilized the clock, and we had our season-low in turnovers,” Chargers Head Coach Mike McGrath said, noting his team finished with nine. “Turnovers have been our Achilles heel, and when we can control our turnovers, we’re pretty competitive.”

In addition to taking better care of the ball, Central also excelled on the other end of the court.

“We actually played probably our best defensive effort of the year,” McGrath said.

Back after being out of the lineup were senior point guard L.J. Watson, senior center Ethan Hoover and senior power forward Ben Spencer.

Watson finished with 21 points and six steals, Hoover had seven points, 12 rebounds and 11 blocks, senior forward Darryl Jones ended up with five points and 10 boards and Spencer finished with three points, eight boards and three steals.

Moving forward, “if we can keep an even-tempo game, I think we’ll be in some ball games and give ourselves a chance to win,” McGrath said.

The Chargers (1-7) are set to host Nottoway High School on Wednesday at 7 p.m. after inclement weather prevented them from playing Monday against visiting William Campbell High School and Friday at Amelia County High School.

“Nottoway’s really athletic,” McGrath said. “They just came off a big win against Randolph-Henry, so they’re going to be tough.”