As season openers go, Central's boys' basketball team looks to be already in midseason form.
The Purple Pounders started fast, used a swarming defense to convert turnovers into points and rolled past Howard 70-35 in a District 6-AA game Tuesday night.
Coming off a state-tournament appearance last season, Central took command from the opening tip. The Pounders reeled off 10 straight points before the Hustlin' Tigers got their first basket, then went on another 10-0 run to put the game away before the end of the first quarter.
"We're definitely a lot more confident in what we can do," said senior Ryan Montgomery, who led all scorers with 19 points and added 10 rebounds. "Defense is a big part of our game - it's what wins championships - and that's how we want to play. The offense will come."
Central had little trouble finding an offensive groove since much of its early points came off steals, which led to easy layups.
The Pounders had seven steals in the first four minutes of the game and scored eight points in a 12-second stretch, with three baskets coming directly off steals in the backcourt. They led by 40 late in the third quarter.
"We haven't even had a scrimmage yet," Central coach Rick Rogers said. "It's been three weeks of practicing in our gym, so the kids were really excited to get to put on the new uniforms and go play somebody else in another gym.
"Coach (Walter) McGary is one of the classiest men I've ever coached with. He's one of my mentors and I know he'll get Howard going this season. Right now, we've got some kids back who are really talented, and they love to create off our defense."
Subbing for senior point guard Terron Hayes, who had to sit out one game, Rodney Benford scored 18 points for Central, including three 3-pointers, and Emmanuel Lane added 11 points and seven steals.
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.