After Floor Dries, Century Sails to 66-55 Victory Over Loara

A leaky roof couldn’t slow down the Century High School boys’ basketball team Tuesday night.

Century made 13 of 22 shot attempts in the second half and turned in another strong defensive effort in gaining a 66-55 victory over Loara in nonleague play at Century High.

The start of the game was delayed half an hour while administrators dried off the floor, which was dampened by a leaky air vent.

The delay might have affected Century’s offense; the Centurions made 11 of 29 shots in the first half and led, 29-28.

Loara (4-9) got off to a good start behind the play of forward Pete Gonzalez, who scored 12 of his game-high 19 points in the first half. Loara had its only lead of the game, 28-27, with 27 seconds remaining in the first half when Gonzalez scored on a follow shot.

But Century (11-3) woke up in the second half and took a 39-29 lead when Jason Welty made two free throws with 5:50 remaining in the third quarter.

“I don’t know what it is about rainy nights, but I’ve seldom seen a team play well when it’s raining outside,” Century Coach Greg Coombs said. “We had open shots in the first half. In fact, I think some of our players were surprised how wide open they were and missed some easy shots.

“We finally got moving in the second half and our offense made our defense more effective. Darvin (Thompson) made a couple of quick baskets, we got a 10-point lead and then our defense shut them down.”

Defense has been the name of the game for Century this season. The Centurions came into the game allowing an average of 49.9 points, and Loara had scored only 49 when Coombs cleared his bench with 1:08 remaining.

Gonzalez, who averages 20 points, was the only effective weapon for Loara but he tired in the fourth quarter and scored just two points down the stretch.

Thompson led the third-quarter turnaround with three straight baskets and also had the defensive play of the game in the fourth quarter when he raced from behind to block what looked like a sure dunk by Gonzalez with 2:51 remaining.

Century, playing with its first senior class, showed it doesn’t execute consistently enough offensively to challenge Pacific Coast League favorites Estancia or Trabuco Hills, but the Centurions’ defense should keep them in every game.

“We live and die with our defense,” Coombs said.

With the victory, Century has equaled its total of last season as it heads into its league opener against Laguna Hills on Friday.