The National Division-leading Rams entered averaging a GWOC-best 98 points per game. The Elks, leaders of the American Division, allow a GWOC best 48.
Trotwood survived 63-59 before a packed house.
“We weren’t going to score 100 tonight…we knew that,” Trotwood-Madison head coach Rocky Rockhold said. “We also knew that if we played tough we’d have a chance to win. We’ll take tonight’s performance.”
“I was hoping we didn’t have to score in the 140s,” Centerville head coach Brook Cupps said. “If we could be in the 60s, I thought we had a shot.”
Down 17 in the fourth quarter, the Elks (9-9, 7-2) rallied behind junior Jayson Hayes and sophomore Tim House, both of whom notched career-highs in scoring. Hayes, a 6-foot-2 guard, scored 12 of his game-high 19 points in the fourth (hit two 3s and was 4-for-4 at the free throw line), while House, a 6-4 guard, added eight of his 18 points. House’s second three of the quarter drew the hosts to within 62-59 with 19 seconds left. After Centerville forced a turnover on the ensuing inbounds, Hayes missed a tough shot on a hard drive. Trotwood-Madison corralled the rebound and Damontae Raglin hit the deciding free throw with eight seconds left.
Raglin, a 6-3 junior forward, led the Rams (15-2, 9-0) with 14 points, while senior guard Carl Blanton, the GWOC’s leading scorer (29 points per game), was held to nine. Senior guard Sammy Anderson added 13.
Freshman guard Gabe Cupps added 10 points for Centerville, which had 20 turnovers.
“With Trotwood you’re never really out of the game because they’re going to play the way they do and all their possessions are going to be fast,” Brook Cupps said. “It can go from a 20-point game to a four-point game and a four-point game to a 20-point game pretty quick. I was happy our guys locked in and continued to play.”
Centerville’s length – the Elks have 15 players 6-1 or taller – provided an edge on the glass. The absence of 6-9 senior Mo Njie, however, left a glaring hole. Suffering a right ankle injury during the Elks loss to Compass Prep (Az.) at Flyin’ to the Hoop, Njie sported a boot on his right foot. Centerville hopes to get him back in two weeks.
“He changes a lot of things,” Cupps said. “Even if he doesn’t score, he changes everything at the rim.”
Trotwood, ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press Division II state poll, was held under 70 points for the first time this season. The Rams previous season-low was 77 points in a win over Wayne.
In addition to Trotwood, only Deavertown (171 points in 1965), Harriesttsville (165 in 1955), Vienna Mathews (158 in 1955) and Archbold (151 in 1922) have scored over 150 points in an Ohio boys game.
“This was tournament basketball,” Rockhold said. “It was both teams just trying to impose their will on the other. This is how you’re going to win or lose in the tournament.”
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