Central Overcome Homenetmen, 103-94
Central pulled away for a convincing 103-94 D1M win over Homenetmen at Mezher on Saturday, December 13. Kenny Wooten led the charge for Central with a game-high 18 points and 13 rebounds. It was an up-tempo, high-scoring affair with both teams combining for 197 points.
Central took a 54-46 lead into halftime.
The game featured several highlight plays. The game featured 10 dunks in total, with K. Wooten (Central) throwing down a powerful slam in the first quarter. A. Abdel Massih (Homenetmen) connected from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter. K. Wooten was a force on the defensive end with 13 blocks.
Kenny Wooten was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 18 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 blocks in 32 minutes of action. He shot 6-of-10 (60%) from the field, 6-of-6 (100%) from the free-throw line. The double-double effort underlined his all-around impact on the game. The team was a remarkable +20 with him on the floor. Jihad El Khatib provided valuable support with 24 points, 11 rebounds. Anyeuri Castillo also chipped in with 22 points off the starting lineup.
The Central bench added 10 points to the cause. Central also generated 20 second-chance points and 18 fast-break points, capitalizing on every opportunity.
Central held a significant edge in field goal shooting at 45% compared to Homenetmen's 40%. From beyond the arc, Central connected on 9-of-29 (31%) while Homenetmen managed just 6-of-27 (22%). Central also had the advantage at the charity stripe, converting 20 free throws to Homenetmen's 26.
Central dominated the boards 51-43, including 22 offensive rebounds that led to extra possessions. Central's ball movement was superior with 25 assists to Homenetmen's 18.
Down the stretch, Central came up clutch when it mattered most. L. Saleh nailed a key basket with 00:30 remaining to help seal the victory.
Despite the result, Khaleed Thomas showed his quality for Homenetmen, contributing 33 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks. Jordan Stevens added 20 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.