For all the missed shots and overall offensive inefficiency Centennial struggled with against South Carroll on Tuesday, the Eagles still got one last clean look with a chance to force overtime.
But, as was a common theme for the entire Centennial team in the championship contest of the Freedom Division at Liberty's Holiday Tournament, the 3-point attempt by Isaiah White from the left wing hit off the back of the rim and South Carroll held on for a 41-38 victory.
"I would take an open three from Isaiah 100 percent of the time," Centennial coach Chad Hollwedel said. "I'm glad he got the shot, I'm not glad it didn't go."
The loss marks the first of the season for Centennial (8-1), which hadn't been held under 40 points offensively in the last five years.
South Carroll coach Doug Goff said he prepared his team, which was led by Matt Breno (10 points) and Logan Cook (9), for the exact kind of low-scoring, grind it out game that occurred.
"We knew it was going to be a battle. Both teams … really stress defense," Goff said. "I knew there weren't going to be easy baskets … we just had to knock down some shots. Fortunately, we made some early."
South Carroll's defense, along with some cold shooting by Centennial, was the story early on. At the midway point of the second quarter, the Cavaliers had held the Eagles to just three field goals and had proceeded to build a 19-6 lead.
During the early push, South Carroll got a trio of 3-pointers by Cole Buffington off the bench to go along with a couple big shots from Breno.
Centennial did come to life a little bit at the end of the half, putting together a 10-2 run behind Chad Strothers (13 points), Tom Brown (7) and Connor Clemens (6). Still, South Carroll held a 21-16 lead at the break.
But in the third quarter, Centennial's defense took center stage. Between the 7:24 mark of the period, until there were just 36 seconds left in the quarter, the Eagles held South Carroll without a point.
And it was during that stretch that Centennial put together an 11-0 run to grab a 27-23 lead.
"(Centennial) picked their intensity level up. They were playing safe and solid and we were able to feel comfortable and get some shots off," Goff said. "Then they realized, 'Hey, we're in a battle here' and they picked their intensity level up two or three notches."
Hollwedel said energy was indeed the difference for his group in the second half.
"We talked about trying to put (South Carroll) in positions where maybe they felt less comfortable," Hollwedel said. "Our pressure definitely made things more difficult for them for a little while."
But for as much as the momentum appeared to be changing, South Carroll stayed the course. It was a 3-pointer by Henry Cook that snapped the scoreless drought, and then, in the fourth quarter, the Cavaliers' top player —Logan Cook — began to really assert himself.
Logan Cook, after being held to just two points in the first three quarters, scored seven in the final eight minutes to help South Carroll push back into the lead. Cook, who was named tournament MVP, was a part of the Cavaliers push at the foul line too, as he hit four of the team's 10 free throws in the final quarter.
South Carroll had the ball with a 3-point lead and just six seconds left. But a length of the court pass was intercepted by Brown to set Centennial up with the one final shot to tie. White, who finished with eight points, was just a little long on his attempt.
Afterward, Hollwedel kept things as positive as possible.
"I just told them that I hate to lose, but if we are going to lose, this is the time to do it," he said. "This is the kind of game that will hopefully prepare us for down the stretch so that we can get better together."
South Carroll 41, Centennial 38
SC: Breno 10, L. Cook 9, Buffington 9, Kelly 6, H. Cook 3, Buckely 2, Louder 1, Wiley 1.
C (8-1): Strothers 13, I. White 8, Brown 7, Clemens 6, E. White 4.
Half: 21-16 SC.