ROUNDUP: Centennial boys edge landing, blow out tourney opener

Centennial’s boys basketball team nearly missed the tournament opener in Elgin, Ill. on Monday.

The Bulldogs, though, arrived just in time to collect a win.

After a flight delayed nearly three hours for mechanical problems and a landing in near-blizzard conditions, the Bulldogs were 66-38 winners over Larkin (Ill.).

Aaseem Dixon had 17 points and seven assists, and Evan Martin added 14 points and four blocked shots for the Bulldogs, who went straight from the Rockford (Ill.) airport to the gym for the game without getting a chance to eat or check into their hotel.

“Considering everything that happened, it was a great, great effort by our guys,” Centennial coach Todd Allen said.

Marcus Allen supplied 13 points for Centennial.

Riverside (La.) 59, Bishop Gorman 51 — At Fort Myers, Fla., Riverside used a 17-0 run in the final five minutes of the first quarter and early part of the second quarter, and held off a late charge by the Gaels to pull out a win in the City of Palms Tournament.

Shabazz Muhammad paced Gorman with 29 points. The Gaels pulled to within five in the final minute, but managed only one more point.

Ricardo Gathers led the Rebels with 16 points. Donald Thomas and Lucas Martin each added 11 points for Riverside.

Centennial 74, Cherry Creek (Colo.) 57 — At Phoenix, Jada Brown notched 21 points and 13 rebounds to help the Bulldogs rally past the Bruins in the Nike Tournament of Champions.

Tamera Williams added 20 points and eight rebounds, and Ashley Klemz scored 17 for Centennial, which trailed 15-12 after the first quarter but pulled away with a 27-15 third-quarter run.

Shavonne White led Cherry Creek with 18 points, and Molly Dietrich added 15 points.

St. Mary’s (Ariz.) 68, Bishop Gorman 53 — At Phoenix, St. Mary’s downed the Gaels in the Nike Tournament of Champions.

Chelsie Pitt led Gorman with 17 points. Diamond Majors added 12 points, and Zhane Dikes scored 11 for Gorman.

Cimarron-Memorial 46, Riverside Ramona (Calif.) 31 — At Riverside, Calif., Traci Parks scored 12 points and the Spartans used a stout defense to overcome the Rams in the Lady Bears Holiday Classic.

Natasha Puckett added seven points for Cimarron, which blitzed Riverside to take a 13-3 lead after the first quarter.