The Centerville Bulldogs traveled to Hagerstown on Thursday, Dec. 14, for a Tri-Eastern Conference matchup with the Tigers. Both teams were coming off back-to-back losses that included blowouts to state-ranked teams and were looking to return to the winner’s circle.

Playing in front of a large vocal crowd, the teams played even for three quarters. The Bulldogs led by a single point after one quarter. The Tigers led by a point at halftime. The teams battled to a 41-41 tie after three quarters, before the Bulldogs pulled away in the final period for a 60-50 win.

Hagerstown’s Anthony Kelley (10) and Kaagen Kendall display the raw emotion of a high school basketball game during a rally against Centerville. Photos by Sherry Stuart

Centerville head coach Brian Keiser was pleased to see his team control the fourth quarter, but he alluded to a third quarter sequence as a key point in the game.

“Hagerstown was starting to pull away in the third quarter,” Keiser said. “They were leading 37-30 when Trevor (Thornburg) hit back-to-back 3-pointers to shoot us back into the game and restore our confidence.”

The Bulldogs went on to outscore the Tigers 19-9 in the fourth period.

Shea Hollendonner led the Bulldogs and all game scorers with 24 points. Thornburg provided double-figure support with 13 points. Anthony Kelley led the Tigers with 18 points. Landon Lawson scored 11 points, and Kaagen Kendall added 10.

Centerville (2-4, 2-0 TEC)   12 16  13  19  60

Landyn Keiser 8, Ethan Vecera 4, Hollendonner 24, Nate Dickenson 6, Bryson Brown 2, Kaden McCord 3, Thornburg 13, Joe Martin 0 — Total 60

Hagerstown (2-4, 0-2 TEC)  11 18  12    9  5

Isaac Schmitz 4, Kelley 18, Cole Tracy 5, Kendall 10, Griffin Doerstler 2, Lawson 11 — Total 50

JV Results: Centerville 59, Hagerstown 52

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A version of this article appeared in the December 20 2023 print edition of the Western Wayne News.

Dan Harney is a sports reporter at the Western Wayne News.