When Josh Tolvert hit a 3-pointer in the closing seconds of a dominant win, the Century bench erupted. Not just because the lead was back up to 30, but because the shot symbolized what kind of game it was for the county’s top team: It was everyone’s night.
The Knights came out firing from the opening tip as every player coach George Wunder turned to entered the game and produced, contributing in their own way to a dominant 57-30 win Tuesday night.
“Every single one of guys brings the energy and effort,” Nate Brown said. “We are all fighting and coming out and competing.”
Brown’s contribution? Eighteen points and an impressive display of sharpshooting. The talented guard led the charge offensively for the Knights (12-1, 7-0 Carroll County). With him and Nick Baron seemingly scoring at will, opportunities opened for their teammates.
“I started hitting some 3s early,” Brown said. “That really got things going for some of the others.”
Even when the Knights found themselves in a slight scoring drought early in the second quarter, a defensive effort got the ball rolling. Carter Simmen stuck to Winters Mill leading scorer Nat Curley all game, making things hard for him as he scored just four points, well below his 13.8 average.
The constant pressure and forced turnovers from the stellar defense paid off on the offensive end as the Knights were rewarded with easy, open shots as things started to get out of hand.
“Our guys did a really good job of being active all game long,” Wunder said. “Our offense fed off our defense tonight.”
Despite a bit of foul trouble, Wunder was boosted by key players coming off the bench and sustaining the high standard that has the Knights undefeated in county play so far.
With Baron and Simmen diving for loose balls and fighting for rebounds, they were soon joined by bench trio Braden Davis, Evan Williams and Nate McLaughlin who all played some extended, but productive minutes.
“I try to come off the bench and do the hard work,” Davis said. “Just try and move the ball, play good defense and play my role.”
Century #10, Carter Simmen knocks the ball away from Winters Mill #3, Nat Curley in the 1st half. Century vs Winters Mill boys basketball at Winters Mill High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Winters Mill #24,Tommy Hinkhaus, scores two in the paint in the 1st half. Century vs Winters Mill boys basketball at Winters Mill High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Century #1, Nick Baron scores two in the paint in the 1st half. Century vs Winters Mill boys basketball at Winters Mill High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Century #2, Nathan Brown layup for two in the 1st half. Century vs Winters Mill boys basketball at Winters Mill High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Century #1, Nick Baron, scores two in the paint in the 1st half. Century vs Winters Mill boys basketball at Winters Mill High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Winters Mill #3, Braden Davis layup for two in the 1st half. Century vs Winters Mill boys basketball at Winters Mill High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Centuru #2, Nathan Brown, hits a three in the 1st half. Century vs Winters Mill boys basketball at Winters Mill High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Winters Mill #24, Tommy Hinkhaus hook shot in the 1st half. Century vs Winters Mill boys basketball at Winters Mill High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Winters Mill #20, Tate Steckel hits a three in the 1st half. Century vs Winters Mill boys basketball at Winters Mill High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Winters Mill #3, Nat Curley challenges Century #23, Daniel Riley dunk attempt, commits a foul in the 1st half. Century vs Winters Mill boys basketball at Winters Mill High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Century #23, Daniel Riley dunk attempt, draws a foul by Winters Mill #3, Nat Curley in the 1st half. Century vs Winters Mill boys basketball at Winters Mill High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Centuru #2, Nathan Brown, hits a three in the 1st half. Century vs Winters Mill boys basketball at Winters Mill High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Century #2, Nathan Brown, blocks Winter Mills #20, Tate Steckel jump shot in the 1st half. Century vs Winters Mill boys basketball at Winters Mill High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Century #10, Carter Simmen sinks a three in the 1st half. Century vs Winters Mill boys basketball at Winters Mill High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Century #1, Nick Baron, pulls dpown a rebound in the 1st half. Century vs Winters Mill boys basketball at Winters Mill High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Century boys varsity basketball coach, George Wunder. Century vs Winters Mill boys basketball at Winters Mill High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Century #2, Nathan Brown scores two after a steal in the 1st half. Century vs Winters Mill boys basketball at Winters Mill High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Century #2, Nathan Brown scpores two in the paint in the 1st half. Century vs Winters Mill boys basketball at Winters Mill High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Winters Mill #20, Tate Steckel layup for two in the 1st half. Century vs Winters Mill boys basketball at Winters Mill High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Winters Mill boys varsity basketball coach, Dave Wynne. Century vs Winters Mill boys basketball at Winters Mill High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Winters Mill #20 Tate Steckel drives towards the basket in the 1st half. Century vs Winters Mill boys basketball at Winters Mill High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Century #24, Austin Schulze hits a three in the 1st half. Century vs Winters Mill boys basketball at Winters Mill High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Century #2, Nathan Brown layup for two in the 1st half. Century vs Winters Mill boys basketball at Winters Mill High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Winters Mill #23, Lukas Krebs pull-up jump shot scores two in the paint in the 1st half. Century vs Winters Mill boys basketball at Winters Mill High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
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Century #10, Carter Simmen knocks the ball away from Winters Mill #3, Nat Curley in the 1st half. Century vs Winters Mill boys basketball at Winters Mill High School. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)
Wunder admits, the things that Davis does may not have a fancy stat attached to them, or come with the recognition, but they set the tone for the team and the foundation of what’s expected within the program.
“Braden is just pure energy and hustle every time he steps on the court,” Wunder said. “Nate does a lot of the little things for us, we got guys who are ready to go.”
With Brown and Baron handling the scoring, Simmen holding things down on defense, Dan Riley serving as the de facto big man with a sharp shot of his own and a myriad of players off the bench ready to contribute no matter what, it can get downright overwhelming for opponents moving forward.
Not only has Century found the winning formula, but when executed to near perfection, it’s become hard for anyone in the county to stop them.
“Practice is hard and competitive, then we come out on gamedays and it just carries over,” Brown said. “We love coming out, competing, having fun and winning.”
Century 57, Winters Mill 30
C- Nate Brown 18, Nick Baron 14, Carter Simmen 6, Nate McLaughlin 5, Evan Williams 4, Josh Tolvert 3, Dan Riley 3, Austin Schulze 3, Braden Davis 1
