Outplayed for much of the first half, Wilde Lake boys basketball called timeout after visiting Centennial’s lead ballooned to 10 with under two minutes to play in the second quarter.
Coach Ty Lawson talked about some adjustments on the defensive end. But, mostly, he urged his Wildecats to crank it up.
The message, reiterated at halftime, got through.
The Wildecats, attacking the basket and the boards while clamping down on defense, closed with the last two baskets of the first half and then overwhelmed the Eagles in the second half to close with a sturdy 68-58 win in Howard County play.
On senior night, Wilde Lake (10-3, 4-1 in the county’s Sierra Division) got a complete team effort with standout senior guard Noah Brazil (21 points) leading the way. Centennial (11-2, 4-2) got a sensational performance from star guard Josh Frazier, who scored all 20 of the Eagles’ second-half points in finishing with a game-high 36.
Brazil, whose electric reverse dunk was the home team’s second-half highlight, felt the Wildecats had a sluggish practice Thursday that spilled into the first half Friday. But after Lawson told his team to wake up during the key timeout, things played out just fine in front of the packed crowd.
“I love Wilde Lake basketball,” Brazil said. “I feel like tonight was probably the best game we played as a team this season. Everybody was communicating and everybody had great energy and that’s why we came out with the win.”
Centennial came out more efficiently with Frazier as the catalyst. He scored 16 points in the first half, and when Drew Deisch helped with his seven points late in the second quarter followed by an assertive follow from Julian Ashe, the Eagles had a 38-28 advantage with 1:50 left in the half.
The Wildecats, out of the timeout, made the most of the remaining time with baskets from Dre Hoskins (12 points) and Brazil to take momentum into the third quarter.
Clamping down on defense — Frazier and the Eagles’ first points of the third quarter didn’t come until there was 5:20 left — and getting to the basket in transition and halfcourt sets helped the Wildecats climb back.
They opened the third with a 10-2 run, with guard Devin Wingfield (15 points) tying the game with a short pull-up jumper and then Brazil’s spinning layup in transition providing a 42-40 lead with 3:37 to play.
After Frazier made two free throws to tie the game, Brazil turned a steal into the emphatic dunk that stunned the big crowd. It started a 6-0 run that led to a 50-46 lead after three quarters.
A three-point play from Hoskins to start the fourth quarter helped keep the positive vibes for the home team. Centennial was able to get within 62-58 on Frazier’s three-point play with 1:39 to play, but Wilde Lake closed out the win with help from Wingfield and Brazil.
“We started attacking and finishing, getting some and-ones and wide-open shots that we knocked down. Just Wilde Lake basketball,” Hoskins said.
Centennial coach Rob Slopek said the Wildecats’ inside game and rebounding proved too much.
“Hats off to them — they wanted it and they went after it,” he said.
Frazier’s performance that kept the Eagles close was appreciated.
“That’s Josh every day,” Slopek said. “He’s the best player in the county. He puts us on his shoulders and welcomes it every game. Tonight, it didn’t bounce our way, but that’s OK.”
Both teams return to league play with home games Monday at 5:30 p.m. as Centennial hosts Mount Hebron and Wilde Lake takes on Marriotts Ridge. On Wednesday, Centennial will look to avenge Friday’s loss when Wilde Lake visits, also at 5:30.
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Centennial — 20-18-8-12 — 58
Wilde Lake — 15-17-18-18 — 68
C: Dreisch 7, Frazier 36, Doody 2, Ashe 5, Smith 7, Fregoso-Johnson 1
WL: Brazil 21, Hyson 7, Hoskins 12, Wingfield 15, Miles 4, Wylie 9
