Athens High School on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 -
The Center Roughriders varsity basketball team fell to Waco Connally High School, by a 71-57 final score, during their Texas UIL Region III Quarterfinal elimination game. The game was close early and the Connally Cadets only led by a single point at 11-10 at the end of the first quarter.
The lead swapped hands four times during the second stanza but the Cadets were able to scratch their way to a 29-25 lead by the halftime break. Connally gained a ten point advantage with three minutes left in the third period but the Roughriders came back late to cut the Cadets lead to just 6 points at 43-37 when the buzzer sent the game into the final period.
Connally outscored Center 28-20 points during the fourth period to take the 71-57 win.
Center ends their 2022 season with a 23-10 season mark. They came in as the District 174A first place representative. The 'Riders were led by Jamarion Evans with 21 points. Emonte Cross scored 14 and Kedrin Hinson scored ten.
The Cadets came in as the first place seed for District 18 with a 31-3 mark. They were led by Jelani McDonald with 22 points. Connally now advances to the Region III Semifinals where they will face Silsbee High School.
