JESSIEVILLE – The Centerpoint Knights record setting season came to a close in the Class 3A semifinal round against the number one ranked Cedar Ridge Timberwolves by a 72-47 score.
The Knights played relatively well against all-state performer Austin Reaves, double teaming him wherever possible and holding him to 33 in the game. Reaves had scored 57 and 38 in his previous two ballgames.
However Zach Powell added 15 and Cade Crabtree 11 for the Timberwolves, who dominated the rebounding in the game over the Knights.
After Cedar Ridge opened a 4-0 lead, Tanner Brunt knocked down a 3 pointer to start off the knight scoring with 5:23 in the first quarter.
When Lance Chambers added a layup more than three minutes later, the Knights were down 9-5.
Dalton Cox concluded the scoring in the first off a Chambers assist to make the score 9-7.
Reaves, who had been held in check during the first quarter, scored his first basket on the initial possession of the second.
Another Chambers layup and two free throws by Keenan Owens tied the game at 11.
Cox hit a three pointer on the next possession, giving Centerpoint its short lived lead in the game 14-12.
Crabtree and Brunt traded baskets on either end, followed by a Reaves’ non-traditional three point play, Keenan Owens followed with his own to place the score at 19-16 Centerpoint with 4:55 remaining in the second.
Dustin Forsythe added a free throw to extend the Knights’ lead to 20-17.
Cedar Ridge turned up the intensity following a timeout, with Reaves scoring, gaining a steal and scoring again to take the lead for the final time at 21-20.
Reaves then left the game temporarily when he cut his forehead open crashing into a guard rail while diving for a loose ball. After his return just seconds into the game later, the Timberwolves ran off a 11-0 run that took them into the half 32-20.
At the half Reaves had 13, Crabtree 11, and Kegan Harrison/Powell/Ethan Ballard with 6 each.
Owens/Brunt/Cox led the Knights with 5 each, Chambers added 4 and Forsythe 1.
With 4:56 in the third the Knights still hasn’t found the scoreboard, and the Timberwolves lead expanded to 38-20.
David Banda knocked down a three to get the Knights on the board, 38-23.
With the Knights down 42-23 with 3:16 remaining in the quarter, Centerpoint head coach Kevin Owens was assessed with a technical foul. Reaves knocked down both penalty shots for a 44-23 lead.
Keenan Owens would push the score to 46-25 a few possessions later, but the fouls were beginning to add up for the Knights. A minute later a Brunt 3 pointer would bring the Knights to 48-28, but with 11.2 seconds remaining in the quarter Brunt was assesses both a foul and a technical foul, removing him from the game. Reaves knocked down the two free throws to close the scoring in the third at 50-28.
With both teams in the bonus, the fourth quarter was largely a march to the free throw lines. Down 52-30, Tanner Owens knocked down three from the charity stripe, and a minute later Keenan Owens would hit a three to make the score 56-36.
Tanner and Keenan would each split a two shot trip to the line at various points of a Cedar Ridge scoring run that made the score 64-38.
Cox fouled out of the game with 4:42 remaining, and Giovanni Valdez would add a free throw and three pointer to make the score 66-42.
Keenan Owens would be the third and final Knight to foul out of the game.
With 1:15 in the game Cedar Ridge called a timeout to send in the reserves. After the mercy rule began to run the clock without stop, Parker Sutton hit a layup and Cole Hargove knocked down a three pointer to set the final score at 72-47.
Cedar Ridge will move on to face Charleston in the championship game next week.
The Timberwolves were led in scoring by Reaves at 33, Powell 15, and Crabtree 11.
Scoring for the Knights was Keenan Owens with 11 and Tanner Brunt with 8.
The Centerpoint Knights finished the most successful season in school history, adding the semifinal stop to their collection of a regular season undefeated conference championship, a district tournament championship as well as a regional championship that netted them a number one seed at the state tournament. They close the season at 26-5.