Centerville and Richmond are not in the same conference, sectional or enrollment class, so when the Richmond Red Devil basketball team traveled west on Highway 40 on Saturday, Jan. 25, to square off against the Bulldogs, some might not have recognized the importance of the game to the participants and their fans.
Playing before a standing-room-only crowd, the teams were motivated by program and community pride and the intensity level for both teams was off the chart. It had been 30 years since Centerville last defeated Richmond in boys basketball.
The Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead and built on it. The ‘Dawgs stunned the Devils by taking a 12-4 lead at the end the first quarter and increased it to 29-15 by halftime.
The Red Devils dialed up their defensive pressure and scoring in the third quarter, but the Bulldogs matched them point for point and maintained a seemingly comfortable 48-34 lead heading to the final period.
The Richmond defensive pressure became relentless and the Bulldogs’ lead evaporated. The Red Devils opened the fourth quarter on an 11-0 run. Centerville called time out. Out of the time-out, Mason Carpenter buried a deep 3-pointer to tie the score at 48-48 with three minutes remaining. Landyn Keiser scored to restore the lead to Centerville at 50-48. Dae Lundy hit a corner 3-pointer to give the Red Devils their first lead of the game at 51-50 with 2:12 remaining.
Free throws from Ethan Vecera put the Bulldogs back in front at 52-51 and seconds later Jace Hollendonner sank two free throws to extend the Bulldog lead to 54-51. With 57 seconds remaining, Carpenter sank another long jumper to cut the Richmond deficit to 54-53. Hollendonner went back to the line and sank two more free throws, and with 20 seconds to play, Vecara added a free throw to give the Bulldogs a 57-53 lead.
Ty Phillips hit two free throws for Richmond to make the score 57-55 with seven seconds left, and Richmond called time out to set their defense. Centerville turned the ball over on the inbound play giving Richmond the ball under their own basket with 5 seconds remaining. The Red Devils got off a 3-point shot that could have won the game as time expired, but it did not fall.
Keith Plyley Jr. and Landyn Keiser each scored 12 points to lead the balanced Bulldog attack. Kaden McCord scored 11 points. All-state candidate Mason Carpenter led the Red Devils and all game scorers with 24 points. Dae Lundy scored 13 points.
Centerville head coach Brian Keiser said he was proud of the way his team handled the pressure.
“We were extremely efficient on offense tonight through three quarters,” Keiser said. “The defensive pressure got to us in the fourth quarter and we surrendered the lead, but then we fought to get it back. We wanted to double team (Mason) Carpenter on the last play so he could not get the ball. He is a phenomenal player and we did not want him to take the last shot. It was a sectional tournament type of atmosphere and I could not be prouder of my kids.”
Richmond head coach Billy Wright said his team works hard on defense.
“It got us back in the game,” he said. “We told the kids at halftime that to set up our press we have to score, and we did not do that in the first half. The crowd tonight created a sectional tournament atmosphere and I think it energized both teams. This hurts now but it was a great high school basketball game and I am proud of my team. We will learn from this game and be better because of it.”
Centerville (10-6) 12 17 19 9 57
Plyley Jr. 12, Landyn Keiser 12, Ethan Vecera 8, Bryson Brown 5, McCord 11, Jace Hollendonner 9 — Total 57
Richmond (6-10) 4 11 19 21 55
Lundy 13, Carpenter 24, Jaiden Holland 0, Treston Bennett 2, Quinten Lopeman 9, Ty Phillips 6, Thomas Stargel 1 — Total 55
A version of this article appeared in the January 29 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.