{"id":169642,"date":"2019-12-21T22:34:51","date_gmt":"2019-12-22T06:34:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bilcomprd.wpengine.com\/?p=169642"},"modified":"2023-03-21T14:23:09","modified_gmt":"2023-03-21T21:23:09","slug":"giant-killer-corona-centennial-takes-tarkanian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ballislife.com\/giant-killer-corona-centennial-takes-tarkanian\/","title":{"rendered":"Giant-Killer Corona Centennial Takes Tarkanian!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Centennial (Corona, Calif.) uses it four-guard, sprinting attack to capture the 2019 Tarkanian Classic Platinum Division title with a convincing victory over No. 5 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.). The Huskies defeated two other FAB 50 ranked teams en route to the title behind Portland St.-bound Most Outstanding Player Paris Dawson.<\/strong>
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RELATED:<\/strong> 5 Things We Learned At Tark<\/a><\/p>\n

When the 16-team Platinum Division field was announced for the 2019 Tarkanian Classic<\/em>, it looked like Centennial (Corona, Calif.) was going to a solid first-round opponent for one of the tourney's top seeds. By the time the brackets were announced, however, it was clear the Huskies were going to be a tough out for any of the top seeds, which happened to be FAB 50 No. 17 Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia, Pa.). This was based on Centennial's showing at its own BattleZone Tournament<\/em> in late November, in which it defeated preseason FAB 50 No. 21 Rancho Christian (Temecula, Calif.) and gave Sheldon (Sacramento, Calif.) fits before falling, 74-67. In its first game in Las Vegas, Centennial indeed gave Neumann-Goretti all it could handle and was able to pull out a 68-64 win after trailing by five points with less than three minutes remaining.<\/p>\n

Five days before the tournament began, Centennial defeated a Coronado (Henderson, Nev.) team that began the season ranked No. 41, 73-65. When Coronado won its first round game and saw that Centennial had gotten past Goretti, the Cougars were highly-motivated for a little payback. What transpired, however, showed that Centennial was going to be a force to be reckoned with in this bracket, as it rolled Coronado 83-48. Using its guard dominant, sprinting with and without-the-ball style, Centennial knocked off two more FAB 50 ranked teams to take home the Tarknian tournament title to become the fourth California program to win the prestigious tournament since it began in 2012.<\/p>\n

In the tournament semifinals, Centennial pulled away down the stretch from No. 19 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) and won 63-53. It wouldn't be denied against host and No. 5 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) in the title game, as the Gaels were unable to rattle Centennial's ball-handlers or keep them from getting in the key, as the Huskies recorded a 71-55 victory.<\/p>\n

Centennial (10-2) took a 29-18 halftime lead and got a big boost when senior Freddie Dybala<\/strong> hit a 3-pointer right before the halftime buzzer. Gorman (7-1) battled back to tie the game at 31-31, but Centennial freshman guard Jared McCain<\/strong> hit a 3-pointer to make it 34-31. Gorman eventually took a 35-34 lead, but the Huskies stormed right back and went on a 10-2 run to take control of the game.<\/p>\n

One of Centennial's two losses was to No. 27 Sheldon (Sacramento, Calif.), and it looked like Centennial might have a rematch with a team it lost to earlier in the season. Sheldon was in control against Bishop Gorman in its semifinal contest, until the Gaels outscored the Huskies, 19-5, over the course of the final 2:25 to defeat Sheldon, 76-66. Gorman was hoping to rattle Centennial with its pressure defense as it did to Sheldon a game earlier, but when the Gaels were unable to make the Huskies uncomfortable with the ball, Centennial was able to make enough shots and rebound well enough to hold off Gorman the rest of the way.<\/p>\n

The catalyst for Centennial was senior point guard Paris Dawson<\/strong>, who wore down Gorman with his relentless attacking with the ball, clutch shooting and on-court leadership. The Portland St.-bound point guard scored a game-high 27 points, including 5-of-11 shooting from 3-point range. Named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, Dawson averaged 21.5 ppg for the tournament and scored 22 points in the big first-round win over Neumann-Goretti. The Saints didn't lose another game and went on to win the consolation championship with a 79-75 victory over Skyridge (Lehi, Utah).<\/p>\n

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Paris Dawson (@parisdawson19<\/a>) is named @TarkClassic<\/a> MOP after leading Centennial (Corona, CA) to 4 wins over highly-ranked teams while scoring 21.5 ppg. Guys can't stay in front of him or speed him up & when that jumper is WET ?, it's over. Portland St. got a WINNER! ? pic.twitter.com\/tb0Ce7VSS9<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) December 22, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n