By Erik Harris, sports editor
CENTER POINT — The Center Point boys basketball team grinded out another one on Wednesday night at home.
After pulling off two close calls on their way to a Class 5A, Area 12 tournament championship last week, the seventh-ranked Eagles survived another scare on Wednesday in their playoff opener. Center Point (11-7) had four players score double digit points as the Eagles started fast and ultimately held on for a 60-54 win over Area 9 runner-up Wenonah.
“You have to take games like this,” said Center Point head coach Rodney Chatman following the game. “We had a buzzer-beater (against Cordova) and then we had to come from behind against Hayden and then we had to fight off a pesky Wenonah team, so we’re just going to keep fighting, keep grinding.”
“I’m proud of them because they’re fighting, but we’ve got to mature,” he continued. “Thank the Lord, we have a day to get ready and hopefully we can just keep it going.”
The win puts Center Point through to the Class 5A Sweet 16 where the winner of No. 8 Russellville-Mae Jemison awaits.
To get there, the Eagles leaned on a quartet of upperclassmen, including KC Irby Jr. (16 points), Desmond Gaines (15), Jordan Chatman (14) and Aaron Walker Jr. (11). After going to the fourth holding a 43-39 lead, Walker started the final period with a deep 2 that sparked an 8-2 run.
From there, the Area 12 champs did just enough from the free-throw line — making 11 of their 18 fourth-quarter attempts — to preserve the playoff victory.
Offense came easier in the early going while Center Point jumped out to a 22-12 first-quarter advantage. Jordan Chatman spurred the first-quarter surge with 10 of his 14 total points. The Dragons doubled and sometimes tripled him from that point on.
The extra attention worked as Wenonah started the second on a 10-1 run, cutting the deficit to 1 point. Things stayed pretty tight from then on. Dragons’ senior Kameron Bester tied it up at 37-all with a corner 3 with 1:58 remaining in the third period.
Center Point, like it has all postseason, found an answer and survived.