HOLIDAY CLASSIC: Veterans key Centennial in tourney opener
With one senior and two juniors, Centennial’s girls basketball roster doesn’t have a wealth of on-court experience.
The Bulldogs’ expectations remain as lofty as ever, a year after winning the Class 4A state championship.
Centennial showed flashes of brilliance during an 83-46 victory over Tech in the opening game of the Bulldogs’ Las Vegas Holiday Classic on Monday.
Centennial’s veteran players dominated. Senior Alexis Byrd compiled 36 points and 12 rebounds, junior Courtney Hayes had 19 points, 12 steals and nine rebounds, and junior Ashley Klemz scored 12 points.
Now coach Karen Weitz is watching for signs that Centennial’s younger players are ready to emerge.
“We have some young kids,” she said. “We have some players who were role players last year. They can’t be role players any more. They want to still be role players, but we need them to step up.”
Along the way, there will be harsh lessons, such as losing three of four games last week in the Tournament of Champions in Phoenix.
“They need to play hard and intense every single day,” Weitz said. “It doesn’t matter if we’re in Vegas or Arizona, we have to continue to grow and get better.
“You have to get them to want to learn and understand the game. All of them want to play the game, but it’s getting harder to find kids who want to learn and understand the game of basketball.”
Centennial was not threatened by Tech after bolting to a 25-10 first-quarter lead. The Bulldogs forced 36 turnovers, but missed more than a handful of layups and committed 15 turnovers.
Mesha Phillips led Tech with 21 points. Aubrey Donald grabbed 17 rebounds.
Centennial 66, Schurr (Calif.) 40 — Byrd scored 30 to lead Centennial in another rout.
Hayes added 11 points, and Klemz and Shannon Brown had 10 each for the Bulldogs, who outscored Schurr 35-14 in the second half.
Pahrump Valley 43, Arbor View 34 — Alyson Kunzi scored seven points during a 13-4 fourth-quarter burst that lifted the Trojans past Arbor View.
Kunzi finished with 13 points.
Jenna Valenzuela paced the Aggies with 17 points.
Elko 49, Pahrump Valley 40 — Elko used a 13-0 run during the second quarter to open up a 26-12 lead and down the Trojans.
Kunzi scored 13 points, and Ashley Lindgren added 10 for Pahrump Valley.
South Torrance (Calif.) 53, Arbor View 33 — South Torrance used a 25-8 second-quarter run to put away the Aggies.
Erika Lang had 16 points for Arbor View.
Carson 60, Tech 52 — Carson used an 8-0 fourth-quarter run to open up a 10-point lead and hold off the Roadrunners.
Mesha Phillips led Tech with 21 points. Julie Harless added 14 points for the Roadrunners, who sprinted to a 14-6 lead four minutes into the game.
North (Ariz.) 57, Coronado 34 — North finished the second quarter on a 17-2 run, opening up a 30-15 halftime lead on its way to a win over Coronado.
Alyssa Avilla drained seven 3-pointers and had 23 points for the Mustangs.
Nicole Ruffino led the Cougars with 18 points.
Woodbridge (Calif.) 46, Coronado 9 — Woodbridge held the Cougars scoreless for the first 20:36 of the game, building a 27-0 lead before Ruffino broke the drought with a jumper.
Temecula (Calif.) 65, Valley 40 — Temecula bolted to a 22-5 first-quarter lead and rolled past the Vikings.
Christina Davis led Valley with 16 points, including a 10-for-10 effort from the free-throw line.
Dobson (Ariz.) 72, Valley 40 — Dobson outscored the Vikings 39-13 in the second half to pull away.
Davis led Valley with 23 points.
Douglas 37, Lincoln County 35 — Douglas rallied from an early 11-4 deficit to edge past the Lynx.
Mary Culverwell led Lincoln County with 11 points.
Temecula (Calif.) 60, Lincoln County 41 — Temecula used a 24-2 first-half run to cruise past the Lynx.
Marissa Smerek scored 12 of her 16 points in the fourth quarter for Lincoln County.
