Centreville’s Tayshawn Hogan #0 tries to use his hand to get separation from Westfield's Gavin Kiley #5. Photo by Will Palenscar
The Westfield Bulldogs and Centreville Wildcats basketball teams met for the third time this season on Feb. 12, the first two games going to the Wildcats, this game a conference semi final game with the winner advancing to the conference championship at Chantilly High School.
The first 4 minutes of the quarter belonged to the Wildcats, opening an early 7-0 advantage. However, with still 2:39 to play in the opening quarter Westfield was able to get the game to within a point 7-6. Moments later the Bulldogs were able to take an 8-7 lead. With a little more than a minute to play the Bulldogs increased that lead to 10-7. Centreville scored the final 5 point in the quarter giving them a 12-10 advantage.
In the second quarter Westfield scored 13 points including a Taylor Morin three pointer, while holding the Wildcats to just 6 points, giving the Bulldogs a halftime lead of 23-18.
Centreville overcame that deficit by scoring 14 points in the 3rd quarter while holding Westfield to 6 points. Twelve of the Wildcats points came via four successful three pointers. Chris Kuzemka had two of those three pointers while teammates Tayshawn Hogan and Lance Douglas had the other.
Facing a three-point deficit with a quarter to play, the Bulldogs would not quit. Sam Johnson would score 4 points in the quarter and teammate Trent Reimonenq would score 5 points including a three pointer as the Bulldogs were able to send the game into OT, tied at 41, after holding the Wildcats to just 9 points.
The Wildcats scored the first four points in OT, taking a 45-41 lead. Tahj Summey was fouled by Lance Douglas sending Summey to the line with 1:29 to play. Summey would nail both his free throws narrowing the lead to 45-43. Soon thereafter Connor Shanton hit two free throws after being fouled, putting Centreville back up 47-43. Trent Reimonenq hit his second three pointer of the game to pull Westfield to within a point with 50 seconds to play. Lance Douglas and John Hunter each added one free throw in the closing seconds, securing Centreville’s bid to the conference championship game with a 49-46 win.
Westfield fell to 3-16 Centreville improved to 18-5. Westfield was led by Trent Reimonenq and Marshall reed’s 10 points. Centreville was led by Bryce Douglas with 17 points, and Chris Kuzemka’s 13.