Central Top Champville, 92-79
Central pulled away for a convincing 92-79 D1M win over Champville at Central on Wednesday, December 3. Jihad El Khatib led the charge for Central with a game-high 19 points and 12 rebounds. Central built a commanding lead of up to 21 points and never looked back.
Central took a 44-36 lead into halftime. The first quarter was the decisive stretch, with Central outscoring their opponents 21-13 to swing the momentum in their favor.
The game featured several highlight plays. A. Lazic (Champville) threw down a powerful dunk in the first quarter, one of 4 dunks in the game. J. El Khatib (Central) connected from beyond the arc in the third quarter. K. Wooten was a force on the defensive end with 9 blocks.
Jihad El Khatib was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 19 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks in 36 minutes of action. He shot 6-of-10 (60%) from the field, 3-of-4 (75%) from three-point range, 4-of-4 (100%) from the free-throw line. The double-double effort underlined his all-around impact on the game. The team was a remarkable +19 with him on the floor. Donte Mcgill provided valuable support with 25 points, 4 assists. Anyeuri Castillo also chipped in with 19 points off the starting lineup.
Central's bench was a major factor, contributing 21 points off the pine. Ghassan Salem was the standout reserve, providing 11 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists in a spark-plug role. Central also generated 25 fast-break points, capitalizing on every opportunity.
Central held a significant edge in field goal shooting at 50% compared to Champville's 36%. From beyond the arc, Central connected on 8-of-18 (44%) while Champville managed just 3-of-23 (13%).
Central was in control for much of the game, building a lead of up to 21 points and putting together a 12-0 scoring run.
The biggest momentum shift came when Central put together a 12-0 run in the third quarter, leaving their opponents scrambling to respond.
In a losing effort, Henry Sims fought hard for Champville, finishing with 19 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals. Aleksandar Lazic added 18 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.