Central Hold Off Antranik, 85-81
Central held off a competitive Antranik squad to claim a hard-fought 85-81 D1M victory at Central on Sunday, October 19. Anyeuri Castillo led the charge for Central with a game-high 18 points and 10 rebounds.
The two sides were locked in a tight battle through the first half, heading into the break tied at 37 apiece. The third quarter was the decisive stretch, with Central outscoring their opponents 28-13 to swing the momentum in their favor. Antranik closed the game strong with a 31-20 fourth-quarter effort.
The game featured several highlight plays. The game featured 10 dunks in total, with M. Majak (Antranik) throwing down a powerful slam in the first quarter. K. Kevork (Antranik) connected from beyond the arc in the third quarter. K. Wooten was a force on the defensive end with 9 blocks.
Anyeuri Castillo was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 18 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals in 35 minutes of action. He shot 8-of-18 (44%) from the field, 2-of-9 (22%) from three-point range. The double-double effort underlined his all-around impact on the game. Donte Mcgill provided valuable support with 24 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, including 3 three-pointers. Kenny Wooten also chipped in with 14 points off the starting lineup.
Central also generated 19 fast-break points, capitalizing on every opportunity.
Central held a significant edge in field goal shooting at 44% compared to Antranik's 34%. From beyond the arc, Central connected on 10-of-29 (34%) while Antranik managed just 13-of-40 (32%).
Central owned the paint with 44 points inside to Antranik's 24. Central's ball movement was superior with 21 assists to Antranik's 13. Central was in control for much of the game, building a lead of up to 19 points and putting together a 10-0 scoring run.
The biggest momentum shift came when Antranik put together a 12-0 run in the first quarter, leaving their opponents scrambling to respond. Central answered with a 10-0 run of their own, keeping the contest competitive.
Down the stretch, Central came up clutch when it mattered most. J. El Khatib nailed a key basket with 00:22 remaining to help seal the victory. It was a white-knuckle finish that had both benches on their feet until the final buzzer.
Despite the result, Majur Majak showed his quality for Antranik, contributing 17 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks. Jeremiah Gambrell Jr. added 24 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.