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.