In a game played at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11, the Centerville Bulldogs led wire-to-wire to defeat the Hagerstown Tigers 59-41. The game was initially scheduled for Friday, Jan. 10 and rescheduled because of inclement weather, which means that the Bulldogs will get little rest before the championship game. The Bulldogs displayed their quality depth early in the contest.
With starter Kaden McCord sidelined with an injury, Bulldog head coach Brian Keiser gave sophomore Landen Schlotterbeck the first start of his varsity career. He responded by scoring 11 first-quarter points to help propel the ’Dawgs to an 18-13 lead at the end of the first quarter, a lead they would never surrender.
The Tigers, who were missing starter Isaac Schmitz due to injury, cut their deficit to within 5 points twice late in the first quarter but could never get closer as the ’Dawgs gradually pulled away.
Schlotterbeck led the Bulldogs with 15 points, Landyn Keiser scored 14 points and Bryson Brown added 13 points. Kaagen Kendall led the Tigers with 15 points and Landon Lawson scored 12 points.
Centerville head coach Brian Keiser said his kids understood what they had to do and accepted the assignment. “The kids knew they had to get by a good Hagerstown team if they wanted a chance to repeat, and they stepped up. We will try to get some rest this afternoon and come back ready for tonight. Northeastern is good, but our kids know we can play with them.”
Hagerstown head coach Mark Doerstler was not available for comment.
Centerville (7-5) 18 16 12 13 59
Keith Plyley Jr. 0, Landyn Keiser 14, Ethan Vecera 6, Brown 13, Jace Hollendonner 8, Coltyn Keiser 3, Schlotterbeck 15, Kyle Dickenson 0, Johnny McGinty 0, Jonah Cornett 0 — Total 59
Hagerstown (4-7) 13 10 9 9 41
Jayke Troutwine 6, Kaden Hall 6, Graham Vinson 0, Kendall 15, Landon Lawson 12, Ronin Dickey 0, Griffin Doerstler 2, Mason Rhoades 0, Anthony Kelley 0 — Total 41
A version of this article appeared in the January 15 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.