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CHALK ANOTHER W: Central Mountain gets another win on the season, defeats Tyrone 58-51

Central Mountain High School’s Brody Baker (24) takes it inside the paint against the Golden Eagles of Tyrone. The Wildcats defeated the Tyrone Golden Eagles, 58-51. Central Mountain is now 11-3 on the season. (For The Express/Tim Weight)

MILL HALL- The three-point shot was dynamite for Central Mountain as they converted nine three pointers and dropped the Tyrone Golden Eagles, 58-51.

By beating Tyrone, The Wildcats’ record improves to 11-3 on the season. They’re just two victories shy of reaching last year’s mark of 13 wins.

“In the first half we shot the ball well,” Central Mountain head coach Scott Baker said. “I didn’t think we played very well in the fourth quarter at all, but we played a good third quarter.”

Central Mountain took the lead in the opening possession when Matt Storeman connected with an open Kyle Everhart at the top of the arc for an easy three to take control of the game. A few possessions later, Kyle Everhart sunk another three to give the Wildcats a 8-3 advantage, and from there on it was apparent that the Wildcats took a likening to the perimeter shot. After the game, Central Mountain head coach Scott Baker explained how Monday night’s contest was the type of game where Central Mountain’s success would be determined by its ability to shoot from long range.

“I know we shot well in the first half,” Baker said. “I think tonight was really one of those cases were you live by the three and you die by the three. ”

CM drilled three three-pointers in the opening period but closed the quarter with a small 15-12 lead, primarily because half of Tyrone’s first quarter points were the result of outside shots.

“They had some kids who knocked down perimeter shots,” Baker said.

The Wildcats built on its 15-12 lead early into the second quarter when Trevor Hanna nailed a three pointer to extend the Wildcat’s lead to 18-12. The Wildcats converted another four three pointers in the second- quarter, and headed into halftime with a 31-19 lead after Wyatt Bumbarger nailed a three at the buzzer.

Wyatt Bumbarger ended the night with 12 points, and a game-high four three pointers, while Justin Neff recorded a team-high 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Trevor Hanna dropped 8 points, including a three pointer at the buzzer to send CM into the fourth quarter with a 45-33 lead.

Despite heading into the fourth quarter trailing 12 points, Tyrone was able to outscore the Wildcats 18-13 in the fourth quarter and keep the match competitive as CM struggled with Tyrone’s full-court trap. The Golden Eagles played strict double-teams on the ball handler during the in-bounds pass and were able to rally and trailed Central Mountain 53-50 with just 1:30 remaining in the fourth quarter.

However, Central Mountain’s Justin Neff essentially put the game away after he converted a free throw, then pick-pocketed a Tyrone ball-handler in the ensuing possession and raced down the court for an acrobatic lay-up to put CM ahead 56-50 with under a minute remaining.

Although Central Mountain won 58-51, Scott Baker was disappointed with his team’s fourth quarter performance. CM began the quarter with a 12- point lead that shrunk to just three points with a little over 1-minute remaining.

“We got a little bit stupid there in the fourth quarter,” Baker said. “No question about it. We just did some stupid things to kind of let them back in.”

“But we made enough plays at the end,” he added. “And sometimes you have to do that. “Two games in a row here at home that we’ve had to make a play-or-two late in the game and we’ve made them.

The Wildcats host Midd-West on Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m.

TY 12 7 14 18- 51

CM 15 16 14 13- 58

Player Stats

Scoring-Central Mountain: Justin Neff-15 points, Wyatt Bumbarger- 12 points, Brody Baker- 10 points, Trevor Hanna- 8 points, Kyle Everhart – 8 points, Matt Storeman- 3 points, Collin Jones- 2 points Tyrone- Parker Mitchell- 19 points,Jacob Meredith- 12 points,Dylan Thomas- 9 points,Michael Lewis- 6 points, Hunter Anderson- 5 points

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