Three years ago, Central coach Rick Rogers may not have been able to predict his boys' basketball team would hoist the 2015 Region 3-AA trophy, but he saw something.
"Three years ago, when these juniors were trying out as freshmen, I knew I had something special," Rogers said after a celebratory jig in his team's dance circle. "When I found out they were all best friends, it was even better. I had all five positions filled after two days of tryouts."
Ahead of the highly touted Purple Pounders junior class is senior Tre Tiller, who led all scorers with 22 points in Tuesday's 53-44 win at Chattanooga State over a familiar foe, the Brainerd Panthers. Like his coach, Tiller said Central's foundation pointed toward success.
"I knew this day was going to happen," he said. "We've got a great team and we came out in the fourth quarter and did our thing."
The teams have faced each other five times in the last two and a half months. The Panthers swept the regular-season series on their way to a District 6-AA crown, but the Pounders have owned tournament play, winning at the Christmas holiday Best of Preps tournament and in the district and region tournament championship games.
Both teams struggled offensively Tuesday, but the Pounders took advantage of more opportunities to distance themselves in the second half.
"We couldn't throw it in the ocean tonight," said Brainerd coach Levar Brown. "They came out fighting, and we took too long to get going. We missed shots, free throws, layups, everything. It's the story of the ballgame."
The Panthers managed only two baskets in the first quarter but shot 10 free throws and made five, which kept the deficit at a manageable six points. Tiller paced the Purple Ponders on the offensive and defensive end, coming up with steals, leading fast breaks, facilitating and soaring for some dunks. Central took a 24-14 lead into halftime.
"We knew we had to stop Kentrall (Evans) and control their offense, and I think we did that," Rogers said. "I don't think I've ever seen a Brainerd team with 14 points at the half. They usually have 14 in the first two minutes against us."
Evans was limited to four points, with two in each half. The Panthers were led by senior Marques Tipton's 14 second-half points in their effort to close the gap.
Tipton scored back-to-back baskets coming out of the half to make it a six-point deficit. That sparked a 9-3 run that allowed Brainerd to trim the deficit to four at 27-23. Central maintained its composure, though, and took an eight-point lead into the final quarter.
Tipton finished with 19 points for the Panthers but could not muster enough to bring them all the way back. Central's lead swelled to 16 with five minutes to play, but a Brainerd run brought it back to nine. Tipton made it six with 14 seconds to play; then Tiller iced the game with a three-point play after a full-court pass.
With both teams in action again tonight, the two coaches said the goal was to take their respective teams to Murfreesboro with a win.
Brainerd will play at Cannon County, and Central will host Livingston Academy at Chattanooga State at 7 p.m.
Contact Idris Garcia at sports@timesfreepress.com.