MILTON – Shaquille Johnson led all scorers with 25 points on 11 of 13 shooting, and Class-AAAAA No. 1 ranked Milton shot 59 percent as a team en route to its 13th straight win with a 93-61 home triumph over Centennial on Friday night.
With the victory, the Eagles (17-4, 9-0 6AAAAA) clinched the regular season region crown and are assured of a state tournament bid by virtue of a bye into the region tournament semifinals in less than three weeks.
Johnson scored several of his baskets off electrifying dunks in transition, and he was joined by fellow seniors Evan Nolte (17 points), Charles Mann (11 points) and Tevin Glass (10 points) in double-figures, as Milton suited up its full complement of players for the first time in weeks due to the previous suspensions of Mann and Johnson.
With all guns ablaze, the Eagles punished the Knights (10-10, 5-3) with crisp ball movement resulting in open looks at the basket. Milton led 32-13 after converting 13 of 19 shot attempts in the first quarter and stretched the halftime lead to 53-26, hitting at a 66 percent clip over the opening 16 minutes.
“I thought we were unselfish tonight, really looking for the open man. When we’re making the extra pass, looking for that open man, we’re hard to guard because all five guys can hurt you,” said Milton coach David Boyd.
The Eagles emptied their bench midway through the third quarter and carried an 80-43 advantage into the final period, which was shortened to six minutes. When all was said and done, Milton connected on 36 of 61 shot attempts from the field with 15 players seeing action on the floor.
“It was good to see some of our guys coming off the bench getting a little more time, especially some of our young guys,” Boyd said.
Fineto Lunguana led the way with 13 points off the bench for the Knights, who have dropped three of four. No other Centennial player hit double figures, though guards Michael and Charles Pack combined for 15.
Milton won the previous meeting in Roswell on Dec. 9, 75-50.
With a state tournament berth in tow, Milton will look to extend its win streak over the final four regular season games before gunning for a third straight region title and fourth consecutive appearance in the state championship game.
A state tournament caliber game looms on Saturday, as the Eagles will travel to perennial power Wheeler for a 7 p.m. tip in Marietta. At the same time, Centennial will make the short trip down Highway 92 to battle non-region foe Blessed Trinity.
“It is a good feeling knowing at least we’re gonna go to the state tournament. Now you hope to do some damage once you get there,” said Boyd.
“Playing at Wheeler will get your attention, that’s for sure. It’s like a state tournament game, so that works out in our favor. And then the region games, we wanna make sure we’re finishing strong.”
LADY KNIGHTS 51, LADY EAGLES 35
Centennial used a big first half run to erase an early deficit and go on to defeat Milton by 16 in the girl’s varsity matchup prior to the boy’s game.
The Lady Knights (9-9, 3-5 6AAAAA) trailed 8-4 early but embarked on a 21-5 run to take a 12-point lead into the half at 25-13. Centennial’s trapping defense frustrated the Lady Eagles (7-13, 5-4), who tallied just three first half field goals and shot a miserable 12 for 44 (.273) for the game.
Paige Elliott (12 points, 6 rebounds) and Chelsea Reese (12 points) led the way for Centennial. The 6-foot-1 Elliott had her way inside, hitting 5 of 6 first half field goal attempts to give the Lady Knights early breathing room.
Centennial extended the lead to 34-19 after three periods before eventually halting Milton’s win streak at four games.
The Lady Eagles were led by 12 points and five rebounds from Grace Farnsworth and 11 points from Erin Brundage.
