BOYS BASKETBALL: Troy Brown’s huge day powers Centennial by Coronado at Big City Showdown

Troy Brown had 25 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and three steals Saturday to lead Centennial’s boys basketball team to a 59-51 win over Coronado in the Big City Showdown at South Point Arena.

The 6-foot-7-inch Brown, a McDonald’s All American, had seven points in the fourth quarter as the third-ranked Bulldogs (16-4) held off the No. 5 Cougars.

Coronado (9-9) got as close as two points at 44-42 on a basket by Kennedy Koehler to start the fourth quarter. But Koehler couldn’t complete the three-point play, and the Cougars struggled from the line in the fourth quarter.

Coronado was 2-for-9 from the line in the fourth quarter, and Koehler missed all five of his attempts.

Koehler led the Cougars with 26 points, but was 4-for-11 from the line. Will Weems, a 6-8 center, added eight points and 10 rebounds for Coronado, but was 2-for-13 from the field. Weems struggled against Centennial’s 6-10 Darian Scott, who had two blocked shots. Trey Hurlburt had 10 points for the Cougars.

Alijah Henderson added 10 points and three steals for Centennial.

Clark 58, Desert Pines 56 — At South Point, Jalen Hill had 19 points and the second-ranked Chargers held off the Jaguars in a rematch of last season’s Division I-A (now Class 3A) state title game.

Clark (17-3) led 41-28 entering the fourth quarter, but Capri Uzan scored 13 of his 22 points in the final eight minutes to lead the comeback for No. 8 Desert Pines (10-9).

Uzan’s 3-pointer from the left wing with 1:56 to go cut the Chargers’ lead to 50-44, but Hill answered with a three-point play to push the lead back to nine.

Clark turned the ball over 10 times in the second half, including five times in the fourth quarter. The Jaguars took advantage, and cut the lead to 57-53 on two free throws by Uzan with 4.6 seconds.

Clark’s Trey Woodbury then made 1 of 2 free throws with 3.6 seconds, and Uzan hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer for the final margin.

Durango 65, Liberty 53 — At South Point, Vernell Watts had 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Trailblazers past the Patriots.

Demetrius Valdez added 15 points. and Jeremie Portuondo had 12 points and 11 rebounds for No. 10 Durango (8-7).

Freshman Julian Strawther led Liberty (8-11) with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Dyllan Robinson had 17 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots, and teammate Cameron Burist scored 11 for the Patriots.

The Meadows 56, Needles 50 — At Needles, California, Jake Epstein led all scorers with 29 points to power The Meadows over Needles.

Allen Fridman had nine points for The Meadows, which sunk 27 of its 34 free throws.

Harvey Doogie had 16 points for Needles, Trey Tsosie scored 15 and Irving Juarez had 10 points.

Lake Mead 56, Lincoln County 50 — At Panaca, Shay Rutledge powered the Eagles by the Lynx with a game-high 16 points.

Kaiaokumulani Madela supplied 15 points for the Eagles.

Elijah Harr led Lincoln County with 13 points.

Beatty 56, Beaver Dam 42 — At Littlefield, Arizona, Jacob Oseguera scored 16 points to carry the Hornets over the Diamondbacks.

Manny Villarreal had 15 points for Beaver Dam, and Oscar Plancarte had 10 points.

Word of Life 77, Round Mountain 45 — At Round Mountain, the Eagles routed the Knights.