H.S. Playoff Basketball: Central vs. Lubbock Coronado

Remember that back-and-forth game I eluded to in my last Central basketball post? Well, Friday's area-round playoff game in Big Spring was exactly that. I couldn't believe the speed of the game and both teams were scoring at will. At the half, the score was tied at 35-35. Coronado did have some size on their side with two players over 6'5". But it was the quickness of Central's full and half-court defense that regularly confuses their opponents into making mistakes and Coronado made several.
The story was much the same in the second half, neither team really taking a decisive led. In the last few seconds of the third quarter Central's Rey Pedersen drills a 3-pointer to give the Bobcats a 53-52 lead heading into the fourth. The atmosphere was electric, as if the whole coliseum was about to explode. The game was tied again at 57-57 with just over five minutes left to play until Keevan Coney hit a jumper to put the Bobcats in the lead for the rest of the game. Coronado pulled within three points with about two minutes left, but to no avail. Central answered back with back-to-back fast break scores followed by a Deon Morgan basket and Central wins 77-67. The place went nuts. It took Central 29 years to win their two playoff trophies from the last four days. It's been really fun shooting the Central games over the last few weeks. Each game gets more exciting followed by an even sweeter victory. These guys deserve it. And I have to tell you, shooting a winning team is way more exciting than shooting one that's on it's way out. I know that I am supposed to remain objective when it comes the subjects of my assignments, but lets be honest, I'm human and I just can't help but get caught up in all the action. First of all, I can't believe that this is my job, taking photos of something this exciting. And secondly, why can't I get excited about Central's good fortune. I get to stay in the excitement as long as they continue on.
After the game the players got to cut down the net. Hunter Kinyon, the starting guard that injured his elbow and is now out for the season, got to cut down the first strands. If he was upset at all about not getting to continue playing he didn't show it at all. He kept a smile on his face the entire time and rejoiced with his team. The next game for the Bobcats will take place next Tuesday somewhere, we think, in far West Texas. Their next opponent will be El Paso Hanks, a team nobody thought Central would be playing. I, unfortunately, will not be shooting that game. I have to head to Denver Tuesday morning to participate in my step-brother's wedding. He's getting married on that Wednesday, Leap Day. The only way I'll get to shoot another game is if Central wins the regional quarterfinal against Hanks and moves on to the regional tournament in Ft. Worth. My wife and I will be back in the DFW area Thursday for another wedding, so I could easily pick up that Central game on Friday night. Man, I hope they make it to that next round.