Central head coach Rick Rogers reacts as his team builds a lead over the Brainerd Panthers Tuesday night.In a game dictated by a fast pace and scoring spurts, it was consistency at the free-throw line that helped Central claim a big District 6-AA road win over Brainerd on Tuesday.
The Purple Pounders made 15 of 22 free throws, including 12 of 17 by Emmanuel Lane, to push what was a one-point lead into a 75-63 win in a matchup of unbeatens.
Central's Terron Hayes (5) shoots over the top of Brainerd defender Isaiah Shropshire (4) in second half action as the visiting Purple Pounders defeat the Panthers 75-63."Without Emmanuel Lane we don't get this win," Central coach Rick Rogers said. "I was really proud of the way we kept our composure and answered them after they made their run late to get close. I'm not sure we could win a game like this last year, but we have a lot of big-game experience now and the kids responded."
It was the first win at Brainerd in Rogers' 26 years as Central's coach, but early on the game looked similar to so many of the previous meetings inside High/Jackson Gym as the Panthers held a five-point lead for much of the opening quarter.
But Central opened the second period with a 9-0 run, led by Terron Hayes' six points, to pull ahead. After Brainerd rallied midway through the quarter to tie the game, the Pounders answered with a pair of Rodney Benford 3-pointers and another from Hayes for a nine-point lead at halftime.
The lead grew to 13 midway through the third quarter and remained there early into the fourth before Brainerd's full-court press began to turn the momentum. Three consecutive steals led to a 9-0 run that eventually got the Panthers within 61-60 with 4:46 remaining.
However, the Panthers managed just two field goals the rest of the way, while Central made good on 8 of 12 free throws down the stretch while Brainerd missed five of their final eight free throws.
"Free throws and layups, that's what got us," Panthers coach LeVar Brown said. "I'm not sure why we couldn't make them when we needed to, but we've got to get better. Our press got us what we wanted, but we couldn't knock down some shots when we had chances.
"I found out a lot about my team tonight, though. That was the first time we've been behind at halftime all year, and I thought we showed a lot of character and heart. I still feel like we have the best talent in the city, but there are no excuses. They played well."
Both teams came in with 7-0 records, including home district wins over a tough Red Bank team, but Central stands alone atop the district heading into the holiday break.
Lane finished with 12 rebounds to go with 19 points, and Hayes led the Pounders with 21 points, making all seven field-goal attempts, and five assists. Ryan Montgomery and Benford added 13 and 12 points to a balanced Central offense, and Montgomery also had eight rebounds.
"I've never walked off this floor with a win, so this feels really good to finally get it," Rogers said. "It's a big step for us. We're not used to this type environment and there was a lot of pressure, but we're a team that makes runs and we did what we had to."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.