LV HOLIDAY CLASSIC: Trio helps Bulldogs turn close game into rout

In years past, Centennial’s girls basketball team could often look to one or two players to dominate an entire game.

Names like Italee Lucas, Johnna Brown or Courtney Hayes struck fear into opponents’ hearts.

This year’s Bulldogs haven’t quite found that one player yet.

Instead, they’ve found several who can take over in short spurts.

The latest example came Thursday night when Breanna Workman, then Shannon Brown, then Jada Brown shined to lead the Bulldogs to a 76-45 win over Mira Costa (Calif.) and into the semifinals of the Las Vegas Holiday Classic at Centennial.

“I like that. I’ve always tried to tell my girls that,” Centennial coach Karen Weitz said. “We go nine girls deep, and I think any one of them could be a leading scorer.”

For the second straight game Thursday, Centennial (10-2) found itself leading 20-19 near the middle of the second quarter and in need of someone to take charge.

Workman, a 6-foot-1-inch junior post who can handle the ball and has a good perimeter shot, was there to lead the initial charge.

Workman scored 10 of her 16 points in the second quarter, helping Centennial extend its lead to 35-25 at the half.

“Bre is a workhorse,” Weitz said. “For a big girl, she’s fast. She’s quick; she’s long; she’s lanky. Bre has the confidence to do anything. She can take over a game for five minutes, or she can sit back.”

Shannon Brown, a senior wing, hit a pair of 3-pointers early in the third quarter, tallying eight of her 10 points in that period to help Centennial stretch its lead.

Then junior forward Jada Brown took her turn, scoring a total of 11 of her 15 points in the second half as the early nailbiter became a rout.

Centennial led 61-36 after three quarters and never looked back.

The Bulldogs also got 11 points from Tamera Williams.

“We’re a little bit deeper than a lot of teams,” Weitz said. “As time wears, I think teams can get a little tired.”

Shaylyn Austin and Meghan Peneueta each had 10 points for Mira Costa.

Centennial will face Torrence West (Calif.) in a semifinal at 11:40 a.m. Friday. The title game is set for 3:40 p.m.

Centennial 71, University (Calif.) 35 — Jada Brown scored 19 points, and the Bulldogs survived an early scare.

Tamera Williams added 10 points for Centennial, which led only 20-19 midway through the second quarter before opening up a 35-25 halftime lead and outscoring University 36-10 in the second half.

Emily Reiland led University with 10 points.

Liberty 42, Highland (Ariz.) 32 — Alena Evans had 12 points, and the Patriots finished the game on an 11-0 run to down the Hawks and earn a berth in the semifinals.

Jordan Hagen had 12 points for Highland.

Liberty will meet Reno in the semifinals at 10:20 a.m. Friday.

Liberty 48, Spring Creek 34 — Evans had 18 points, and the Patriots took control with an 18-4 third-quarter run.

Alyx Stiff added eight points for Liberty.

Kyla Siri and Madison Estes each had 10 points for the Spartans.

West (Calif.) 48, Coronado 28 — Shontalene Trudeau scored 11 points, and West used a 22-3 run in the third quarter to down the Cougars and earn a berth in the semifinals.

Carli Smith led Coronado with nine points.

Coronado 44, Galena 25 — Lexi Melone had 10 points, and the Cougars hopped out to a 23-10 halftime lead on their way to downing the Grizzlies.

Taylor Schaller had 15 points for Galena.

Valley 57, Jurupa Valley (Calif.) 45 — Tyricia Payne and BreAnna Fullow each scored 12 points, and the Vikings opened the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run to pull away from Jurupa Valley.

Kennedy Wharton and Gabby Cabanero each added eight points for Valley.

Valley 52, Shadow Ridge 45 — Payne scored 10 of her 21 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Vikings overcome a 35-34 deficit after three quarters in a win over the Mustangs.

Sabriya Brooks paced Shadow Ridge with 12 points, and Jasmine Nicholson scored 11.

Reno 64, Shadow Ridge 36 — Cierra Sobrio led a balanced attack with 11 points, and Shannon Gough scored 10 as the Huskies routed the Mustangs.

Brooks scored 16 points for Shadow Ridge, which trailed 16-0 four minutes into the game.

University (Calif.) 54, Moapa Valley 15 — Melodie Yu had 13 points, and University utilized a 45-4 run to rout the Pirates.

Emily Mills paced Moapa Valley with nine points.

Carson 57, Moapa Valley 14 — Eliza Matley had 15 points, and the Senators used a 23-0 run during parts of the second and fourth quarter and the entire third quarter to rout the Pirates.

Hanna Leavitt had seven points for Moapa Valley, which didn’t make a 2-point field goal in the game, finishing with three 3-pointers and five made free throws.

Douglas 37, Western 34 — Ebony Cleveland had 16 points, including all but two of her team’s 10 fourth-quarter points, as the Tigers nipped the Warriors.

Mylasia Smith led Western with 17 points.

Spring Creek 58, Western 34 — Zuleika Grinsell’s 13 points helped the Spartans top the Warriors.

Arrayana Edwards added 11 points, and Siri scored 10 for Spring Creek, which began the game on a 13-2 run.

Aleya Ford-Wheaton paced Western with 11 points, and Smith scored 10.

Galena 44, Arbor View 38 — Schaller drained six 3-pointers en route to 29 points to lead the Grizzlies back from a 26-15 second-quarter deficit.

Jena Valenzuela had 12 points for the Aggies.

Santa Fe (Calif.) 49, Arbor View 32 — Alisa Bueno had 14 points, and Santa Fe used a 15-5 second-quarter spurt to down the Aggies.

Stephanie Aguillares added 10 points for Santa Fe.

Jena Valenzuela paced Arbor View with 12 points.