By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SALEM, Ore.– It was next man up mentality in the fourth quarter for Central Monday afternoon against Thurston. The Panthers were facing foul trouble with their top players and a surging Thurston squad on their heels, and their once double-digit lead now one with 45 seconds remaining, Central embraced the pressure of the moment at the Capitol City Classic.
“It was a learning experience and I’m glad we learned it quickly to finish that quarter,” said Panther Head Coach Tyler Allen. “I’m proud of the guys, but I see us making both of our free throws instead of one-of-two, but I’ll take it if it got as the win.”
It was 54-53 Central with 45 seconds remaining and it came down to them making their free throws and their defense to come in clutch to seal what became a 58-55 win.
Ty Cirino made a pair of free throws with 41 seconds remaining to push the Panthers lead to 56-53 and got a defensive stop before getting fouled. Central couldn’t add to their lead as the Colts cut the deficit to one with 13.3 seconds left.
Tyler Olafson was fouled and split his free throws, the second missing but rebounded by Braden Bell, who was also fouled. Bell split his free throws that gave Central the 58-55 lead with 11.1 seconds remaining with their defense holding Thurston off the board to close out the victory and sending the Panthers to the Consolation Finals on Tuesday against Nelson.
“It’s going to be against a preseason Top 5, Top 3 team in the State at 6A, I know they’re down their guard right now, but they’re tough,” Allen said of Nelson. “We don’t want to be just in it. We didn’t want to be in the Ruston game as that local school that gets beat up on. We don’t want to be in the Capitol City and go 0-4, we want to be here and prove that we belong here and that’s going to be the same message that we give to the boys tomorrow.”
Tip-off is slated for 3:30pm at Willamette University. Jack Holestine, who scored 16 first quarter points, finished with 25 points in the game to lead the Panthers.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
