Cenla
on a roll, blasts Central Holmes to advance
Southern
Sports & Travel
If
Cenla’s Khylnd Joiner needed a forum to display his vast talents on the
basketball court the 6’2” junior did just that as he led second ranked Cenla to
an impressive 69-46 round two win over Central Holmes yesterday in the Class A
State Tournament at Rebul Academy in Learned, Mississippi.
Joiner
led all scorers with 23 points as Cenla advanced to today’s semi-final round
where they’ll take on top ranked West Memphis.
Cenla
would jump out to a 4-0 lead on a basket by Tyris Price and a baseline
drive from junior LaMontrell Goodeau but Central Holmes appeared up to the task
as the Trojans responded with two buckets of their own to knot the contest at
4-4 less than two minutes into the contest.
In
a frenetic first quarter of play Cenla cashed in on four early Central Holmes
turnovers to produce a 10-2 run that would give the Lions a 14-6 cushion with
2:19 remaining in the quarter.
Both
teams would trade baskets to complete a first quarter that had a combined
eleven turnovers and little scoring that resulted in Cenla holding a 16-8 edge.
The
pace in the second quarter was in stark contrast to that of the first.
Vernell
Jackson’s 3-pointer quickly gave Cenla their biggest lead at 19-8 and the Lions
converted a Central Holmes turnover into a Kory Baker fast break basket at the
6:32 mark to extend the lead to 21-8.
Ira
Haymer’s basket kept Central Holmes relatively close at 21-10 but the Trojans
proved to be no match for the high octane offensive power of Cenla.
Cenla
reeled off a 13-2 run as four different players contributed to the run to
increase the margin to 34-12 with 3:26 remaining in the half.
Terrance
Miller would halt the Cenla run with a basket in the paint but there would be
little Central Holmes could do in slowing down the Lions fast paced offense.
JaRae
Battles sank a jumper from the elbow and Khylnd Joiner drove hard to the basket
to bump the lead up to 38-14 with 2:36 left in the half.
The
onslaught continued as Joiner converted on a fast break opportunity to give
Cenla their biggest lead at 40-14 with 2:13 remaining but to Central Holmes’
credit they would score the last six points of the quarter to take some
momentum into intermission down 46-24.
Khylnd
Joiner brought the house down with a thunderous alley-oop slam to open the
third quarter and that would set the tone the rest of the way.
Cenla
twice grabbed twenty nine point leads in the quarter and would take a
comfortable 60-37 lead into the final eight minutes of play.
As
he did to open the third quarter Khylnd Joiner did the same to start the
fourth. Joiner’s steal in the backcourt resulted in a monstrous one hand jam
on the first possession of the fourth quarter to give the Lions a commanding
62-27 lead.
Cenla
took a thirty point lead at 72-42 on a Jamar Fisher basket in the paint with
2:53 remaining in the contest but Central Holmes managed to finish with a 10-2
run to close out the final two minutes as Cenla advanced with a 74-52 win.
Khylnd
Joiner had a game high 23 points and 21 rebounds to pace Cenla, Kory Baker
added 12, Dezman Eddie and Vernell Jackson 8 each, Tyris Price 7, Demetrius
Clark and La Montrell Goodeau 5 apiece and JaRae Battles and Jamar Fisher 2
each.
Ira
Haymer and CJ Miller led Central Holmes with 11 each, Terrance Miller and
Spencer Rutledge added 7 apiece, Corterrious Hogan 4 and Hayden Carter 3.
Cenla
(28-6) will take on top ranked West Memphis tonight at 7:15.
Post Game with Cenla Head Coach Jonas Gauthier
