By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

The Centre Cougars had their most exciting game of the season Friday at home. As the game went along and a long-sought victory seemed a possibility, the players became energized. The crowd got excited, too, cheering their team to a 51-46 victory against archrival Rural Vista in overtime. It was the first victory of the season.

Vista scored 8 points before Centre got on the board with a basket by Dylan Deines and two by Jared Barney. After a free throw by Vista, Cody Svoboda shot a 3-pointer to tie the game, 9-9. C.J. Thompson scored 2 points at the end of the quarter, but Vista led, 14-11.

The Cougars tied the game again, 16-16, three minutes into the second quarter, and went ahead on two free throws by Cole Srajer. Nathaniel Engler made a basket and Deines sank another trey to give Centre a 3-point lead. But Vista battled back and tied the game, 23-23, at halftime.

There wasn’t much scoring in the third quarter, and Centre trailed by 1, 30-29, at the end. Dakota Stimpson sank a trey to open the final quarter and give Centre a 2-point lead. The Cougars stretched their lead to 4 points but couldn’t hold onto it. Vista scored 4 points in the closing minutes of regulation to send the game into overtime.

Both teams made errors in overtime, resulting in numerous turnovers. Centre got a 2-point lead early with a basket by Stimpson and managed to hang on for a 5-point victory.

Srajer led scoring with 14 points, followed by Stimpson with 10. Other scorers were Deines, 8; Barney, 7; Svoboda and Engler, 3 each; and Thompson, Cole Methvin, and Justin Bina, 2 each.

Sacred Heart

The Cougars lost 80-43 to Sacred Heart Tuesday at the Centre basketball tournament.

Nathaniel Engler was Centre’s top scorer making 14 points.

The Cougars will play Rural Vista this Friday.