The Centennial boys basketball team couldnt quite get over the hump during a 60-57 loss to Hood River on Thursday night.
Centennial took an early 6-3 lead when Somto Aniefuna went the length of the court, shook a defender at the 3-point arc and sailed over another in the lane to convert a layup.
Hood River regained the lead by drilling shots from the perimeter. Hood River found itself up 17-12 after Ryan Wheat swished a 3-pointer from the corner his third long ball of the quarter.
Centennial battled back with Duran Andrews driving the middle for a three-point play, and the team had a chance for the lead when C.J. Okafor launched a 3 with the clock ticking down to end the first period. The attempt clipped the side of the rim and came off the backboard, but Andrews anticipated the rebound and flew to the front of the rim for a putback at the buzzer to tie the score 17-17.
Hood River kept the hot hand into the second quarter, connecting on its first three attempts to gain its biggest lead of the night at eight points. Wheat and Eli Fults each hit 3s during the spurt.
Centennial tightened its defense with a half-court trap that forced a series of turnovers that led to breakaway baskets by Aniefuna and Andrew Ritschard. In less than a minute, Centennial was back within two points.
Hood River called timeout to break the Centennial run and took a 31-26 lead into the locker room. The visiting Eagles would maintain a slim edge throughout the second half.
View a photo gallery from the game online at daveball.exposurermanager.com.