Central Outlast Sagesse, 100-95
Central held off a competitive Sagesse squad to claim a hard-fought 100-95 D1M victory at Central on Saturday, December 20. Kenny Wooten led the charge for Central with a game-high 17 points and 14 rebounds. It was an up-tempo, high-scoring affair with both teams combining for 195 points.
Central took a 52-45 lead into halftime.
The game featured several highlight plays. The game featured 5 dunks in total, with K. Wooten (Central) throwing down a powerful slam in the first quarter. M. Khoueiry (Sagesse) connected from beyond the arc in the first quarter during a crucial stretch. K. Wooten was a force on the defensive end with 9 blocks.
Kenny Wooten was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 17 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, 4 blocks in 35 minutes of action. He shot 7-of-7 (100%) from the free-throw line. The double-double effort underlined his all-around impact on the game. Anyeuri Castillo provided valuable support with 21 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists, including 3 three-pointers. Donte Mcgill also chipped in with 28 points off the starting lineup.
The Central bench added 12 points to the cause. Central also generated 10 second-chance points and 17 fast-break points, capitalizing on every opportunity.
Central held a significant edge in field goal shooting at 47% compared to Sagesse's 41%.
Down the stretch, Central came up clutch when it mattered most. D. McGill nailed a clutch free throw with 00:15 remaining to help seal the victory. It was a white-knuckle finish that had both benches on their feet until the final buzzer.
In a losing effort, Paris Bass fought hard for Sagesse, finishing with 32 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists. Gerard Hadidian added 16 points, 9 rebounds, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.