When Centerville made the short trip to Cambridge City on Friday, Feb. 23, to play Lincoln in the final regular season for both schools, the Bulldogs had a chance to achieve something that has eluded the program since the 2010 season.
A win would give the Bulldogs the outright Tri-Eastern Conference championship. The Bulldogs pulled away in the second half to take a 62-46 victory, but the Eagles made it as difficult as possible.
The two teams met earlier in the season in the Wayne County Tournament with the Bulldogs winning by the score of 83-45. The Eagles’ game plan Friday was to slow the pace of the game and it was very effective in the first half.
The Bulldogs only held a 22-18 lead at halftime.
The ‘Dawgs used pressure defense in the third quarter to speed up play. Shea Hollendonner scored 15 third-quarter points to help Centerville build a 43-30 lead after three quarters. The Eagles fought back to cut their deficit to 9 points on a 3-pointer from Evan Stuckey with 4:44 remaining in the game, but they could never get closer and the Bulldogs pulled away for the win.
Hollendonner led the Bulldogs and all game scorers with 25 points. Ethan Vecera scored 12 points.
Stuckey led Lincoln with 13 points, Aidan Munchel scored 10 points and Oliver Webb scored 9.
Centerville head coach Brian Keiser gave credit to Lincoln and added that he was happy to see his team reach their goals.
“I am proud of what these kids have accomplished,” Keiser said. “You know where they were two years ago. To come in this year and win the county tournament and the conference title is a testament to how hard these kids have worked. Lincoln did not make it easy. They were tough as nails all night. Now we can get ready for the sectional.”
Lincoln head coach Rodney Klein said his team played a physical game.
“I was worried about whether we could match their physicality after they thumped us in the county tournament,” Klein said. “But we have matured and improved since then. Now, if we can put everything together for 32 minutes we can compete in our sectional. Tonight, give Centerville credit: when they needed to score, they did.”
Centerville will begin postseason play in the 3A New Castle sectional on Tuesday, Feb. 27, against Yorktown. Lincoln will begin postseason play in the 1A Blue River sectional on Wednesday, Feb. 28, against Union (Modoc).
Centerville (14-10, 7-1 TEC) 15 7 21 19 62
Daniel Williams 0, Landyn Keiser 2, Vecera 12, Shea Hollendonner 25, Bryson Brown 4, Kaden McCord 3, Nate Dickenson 6, Trevor Thornburg 8, Joe Martin 0, Keith Plyley Jr. 2 — Total 62
Lincoln (7-14, 1-7 TEC) 9 9 12 16 46
Noah Patterson 5, Dustin Lunsford 7, Stuckey 13, Webb 9, Munchel 10, Ryne Sturgis 2 — Total 46
JV Results: Centerville 40 (Carson Ewing 10), Lincoln 30 (Clayton Vickers 15, Carson Hawk 11)
A version of this article appeared in the February 28 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.