Century Closes In on the Title

One team couldn’t make a basket, and the other couldn’t get off a shot.

Somehow, Century survived.

Century, which won by 20 points the last time it faced El Dorado, won Tuesday, 36-27, and probably secured the Empire League title as well.

The Centurions improved to 17-4, 7-0 in league, and hold a two-game lead over second-place El Dorado (14-9, 5-2) with three to play.

The likelihood of either team losing a league game the rest of the season seems remote. Over the last six years, only once has either team been beaten by someone else, and that was two years ago.

“Both teams played really hard,” El Dorado Coach Wayne Carlson said. “They’re just a little better.

“We played good defense, but Elizabeth Mendoza took over.”

Mendoza scored five of her 10 points in the fourth quarter, breaking a 24-24 tie with a 12-footer with 4 minutes 39 seconds left. She added a free throw for a 27-25 lead, and helped put away the Golden Hawks with a baseline drive in the final minute for a 34-27 lead.

But much of Century’s fourth-quarter success stemmed from a defensive play by Susana Herrera, who broke up a two-on-one fastbreak while Century held a 27-25 lead. The Centurions scored on other end to take a four-point lead, the largest since early in the second quarter.

Century missed its first 14 shots in the game and finished 14 of 55 after going five for 12 in the fourth quarter. After making only three of 17 from the free-throw line, the Centurions made four of 10 in the fourth.

But at least Century was getting its shots. El Dorado, which made eight of 32 from the field and seven of nine from the free-throw line, committed 29 turnovers, nine in the fourth quarter. Losing Melissa Jacob, who averaged 12.5 points, to a sprained ankle in the second quarter didn’t help.

Adriana Mendoza added 12 points, and Ana Villalovos had six steals for Century.

Smadar Bezalel and Kelly Ayer scored eight apiece for El Dorado.

In another Empire League game:

Cypress 47, Loara 37--Tricia Culley had 14 points and 16 rebounds for Cypress (12-10, 4-3). Sandra Sanchez scored 16 for Loara.