Trailing most of the game, the Centreville Wildcats rallied Friday night in the fourth quarter to get a 56-55 victory over visiting Madison. It was the Concorde District opener for both teams and the first district victory for Centreville first-year coach Gordon Person.
“It’s amazing,” said Person after the game when asked how he felt about the win. “We’ve still got a lot to clean up but I’m happy for the boys, I’m happy that we’re learning to win.”
A 14-0 run for the Warhawks at the end of the first and beginning of the second quarter gave them a double-digit lead. Madison rebounded Wildcat misses for quick counter-attacks down the floor and held Centreville to under 30% shooting in the first half.
Centreville star guard Jaxson Davis gave his team some momentum right before the half with a three-pointer to cut the lead to 29-23 at the break. Then in the second half Centreville shot much better, led by senior Jack Siwert. Siwert buried four threes and scored all 12 of his points after halftime.
“Jack is a knock-down shooter…we got to get him touches,” said Coach Person. “In the first half we were stymied a little bit…they were marking him a little bit, so he had to try and keep moving. We realized at halftime he had zero attempts, so we were like if we can get it to him clean, he’s gonna let it fly.”
Centreville (1-0, 7-6) closed to within 40-39 in the third quarter, but was not able to overtake the Warhawks until the fourth. That’s when the Wildcats’ defense stepped it up a notch, with numerous players getting key steals: Davis, senior Gordon Person, and Davis’ brother. Sophomore Maddox Davis’ steal late in the fourth led to two Luke Scharkowski free throws, and a 56-54 Centreville lead with 1:25 left.
Centreville had chances to ice the game at the line, but couldn’t convert. After Madison center Michael Dinkelacker was fouled and made one of two free throws, the Warhawks got the ball back and had a chance to win the game at the buzzer, but Mason Burger’s shot was off.
Madison last second shot no good, Centreville boys hang on…Story, box score to come. pic.twitter.com/SAaO7eBwLh
— Novahoops.com (@novahoopsCom) January 11, 2025
Jaxson Davis led the way for Centreville with 21 points, while Maddox Davis’ 12 points off the bench were big as well. The Wildcats were significantly out-rebounded and allowed Madison to shoot 50% from the field, but won the game with their timely fourth quarter defense and three-point shooting. On the night Centreville made nine three-pointers, while Madison made only two.
It was a frustrating loss for Madison (0-1, 7-5), but the Warhawks will get another crack at Centreville at the end of January. The senior triumvirate of Dinkelacker (13 points, 11 rebounds, five assists), Furlong (13 points, eight rebounds), and Burger (11 points) led the way for Madison.
–Chris Jollay
all statistics are unofficial
| CENTREVILLE | FG | FT | TP | REB | AST | |
| KYNE | 0-3 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| SIWERT | 4-7 | 0-0 | 12 | 2 | 1 | |
| SCHARK-OWSKI | 1-12 | 3-8 | 5 | 3 | 4 | |
| JAXSON DAVIS | 7-15 | 4-9 | 21 | 2 | 0 | |
| HARDY | 3-5 | 0-1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | |
| Person | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | |
| Maddox Davis | 4-6 | 2-2 | 12 | 0 | 0 | |
| Kim | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Clement | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| TOTALS | 19-50 | 9-20 | 56 | 15 | 12 | |
| Threes: Siwert 4-6, Jaxson Davis 3-5, Maddox Davis 2-2, Kyne 0-1, Kim 0-1, Scharkowski 0-4 | ||||||
| MADISON | FG | FT | TP | REB | AST | |
| FIEL | 3-5 | 0-0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | |
| CHAPPELL | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| BURGER | 5-11 | 1-3 | 11 | 2 | 2 | |
| FURLONG | 4-5 | 4-4 | 13 | 8 | 0 | |
| DINKELACKER | 4-13 | 5-6 | 13 | 11 | 5 | |
| Huang | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| Mahoney | 1-1 | 0-0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Feuchter | 4-7 | 1-5 | 9 | 4 | 0 | |
| DeWispelaere | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| Radgowski | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| TOTALS | 21-42 | 11-18 | 55 | 36 | 16 | |
| Threes: Fiel 1-1, Furlong 1-1, Feuchter 0-3, Dinkelacker 0-3, Burger 0-5 | ||||||