THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Central High School Athletics

It was jubilation and relief for the Central Warriors, and more heartbreak for the Grand Junction Tigers. Friday night's boys basketball game looked like a Warrior blowout until Grand Junction put together a spirited comeback beginning midway through the third quarter. Central big man Caleb Davis converted a three-point play with less than a minute and the Warriors held on for a 42-38 win. Playing in front of a loud and raucous Grand Junction crowd with the Central crowd matching its intensity, the Warriors took a 29-15 lead at halftime with Davis scoring 14 of his game-high 20 points. "They played hard, they really wanted that game," Davis said. "The win felt awesome in that environment. It was really loud." The senior said communication was key late in the game. "We got regrouped and came together, and we communicated and that's what helped our defense," Davis said. Grand Junction (1-18, 0-4 Southwestern League) took its first lead of the night at 35-33 on a three-point play by Luke Williams with three minutes to play. The Tigers' lead went to 38-35 when Blaine Butler swished a 3-pointer with 1:34 remaining. Davis scored four straight points to put the Warriors back in front 39-38. Central's Gavin Myers calmly sank a pair of free throws with 26 seconds left for a 41-38 lead. Grand Junction's 3-point attempt to tie rimmed out and Central's Railin Manchester hit one free throw for the final point. Central (5-13, 2-3 SWL) is playing improved basketball since the first of the year. "It's taken a long time, and basketball is fun again," Central coach Josh King said. "There was a stretch through the end of December and hallway through January when basketball wasn't fun for anybody. We've gotten back to sharing the ball, making good decisions and playing good defense." This was a third straight close loss for Grand Junction. The Tigers lost 51-49 at Montrose on Tuesday and 56-54 on a shot at the buzzer to Eagle Valley last week.

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Central High School Athletics

CENTRAL SURVIVES LATE RALLY TO BEAT GJ

DALE SHRULL

Daily Sentinel | 2/1/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Christopher Tomlinson