The Riverside Press-Enterprise
Basketball
“I feel that’s what we needed to do to win this game,” Burries said of Roosevelt taking a 20-4 advantage after the first quarter. “We wanted to come out here, get the jump on them this time and play the game our way.”
Centennial uncharacteristically turned the ball over on six of seven possessions during a 3 1/2-minute stretch.
“We’ve had quite a few bad starts all year, but that was the worst of them,” Centennial coach Josh Giles said. “They came out ultra-physical, like we did in the first game, and we weren’t able to come up with a response.”
Centennial chipped away at the deficit and got within 37-32 on Carter Bryant’s three-point play with 1:42 left in third quarter. It was the closest the Huskies would get, however, as Burries scored seven points over the final 92 seconds of the third quarter. Burries nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to extend Roosevelt’s lead to 44-34.
Bryant, who recently was selected for the Mcdonald’s All-american Game, had 39 points in the first meeting. But Roosevelt made things difficult this time around limiting Bryant to 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting.
“Our plan for tonight was making sure (Bryant) never got comfortable or into a good rhythm,” Singleton said.
Burries and Williamson guarded Bryant at times, but it was Slater who shouldered much of that load Friday.
“I wanted to step up for my team and take on that challenge,” Slater said. “I’m proud of our defense tonight.”
Burries and Jackson Haggins scored five points apiece early in the fourth quarter to push
the lead to 54-40.
“I just felt like I needed to be that dog and that leader tonight,” Burries said. “We showed what we can do.”
Williamson scored all 12 of his points in the first half, and Slater finished with seven points and seven boards.
Eric Freeny scored 14 points and also recorded a game-high 12 rebounds to lead the way for Centennial.
Roosevelt likely will be among the eight teams selected for the CIF Southern Section’s Open Division playoffs. It would be the program’s first time in the Open Division since 2017. Playoff pairings will be released Sunday.
“It has been our goal from the start of the season,” Singleton said. “Hopefully we will get some home games.”
Centennial might be on the Open Division bubble with 10 losses, but Friday’s loss to Roosevelt was the first one to a Southern Section team. Giles hopes his team gets a chance for a fourth straight Open Division title.
“I think CIF has the opportunity to reward those teams who went out and played tough schedules,” Giles said. “If they say no, I’d understand why. … I think our schedule speaks for itself and hope we get that opportunity.”