MARTINSBURG - Central coach Reggie Nevins got a rude reception in his return game to the varsity sidelines after an almost decade hiatus.
The welcome-back party came from Juniata Valley as the Green Hornets jumped out to a 17-5 lead before Central stormed back and eventually took control of the game, winning, 82-51, on opening night of the Maxwell Transport Services Dragon Tipoff Tournament Friday at Central.
"I got back into it pretty quick when we started out behind 17-5," Nevins said. "It didn't take long to get revitalized and get fired up a little bit."
JV rode its hot shooting and a stifling defense, which forced turnovers and rushed Central shots in the first five minutes to a 12-point lead.
"The kids played really hard and being [that it's] the first game, and we've got a lot of new faces, I'm actually pretty pleased with the hustle and effort, just not the outcome obviously," JV coach Ron Anders said.
Nevins called a timeout and had his squad regroup with a different look that allowed them to match up better with the quicker Hornets.
The plan worked as Central chipped its way back into the game. In the final 2:01 of the first quarter, it managed to make up 10 points to close the margin at 17-15.
The Hornets expanded their lead to six on two separate occasions, before the Scarlet Dragons put the hammer down and took the lead for good with just 1:02 remaining before the half.
Alex Lafferty came off the bench and drilled a 3-pointer to put his squad in front, 32-30.
"Juniata Valley came out and played great early - they shot the ball well. We had trouble with matchups," Nevins said.
Foul trouble plagued the Green Hornets from the second quarter on, as Central was in the double bonus early in the fourth.
"They did a nice job defensively. They're quick and athletic. I knew they were going to be tough," Anders said.
Central got 20 points and 17 boards from 6-foot-1 junior Lucas Patterson.
Kordell Collins led Valley with 13 points.
Central squares off against Williamsburg at 7:30 tonight, while Juniata Valley meets up with Penns Valley at 6.
Williamsburg beat Penns Valley, 44-34, behind 15 points from Eli?Fay in a game the Blue Pirates won by out-scoring the Rams, 14-4, in the third quarter.
JUNIATA VALLEY (51): B. Grissinger 0 3-4 3, Gable 4 1-3 11, Taylor 5 0-3 12, Collins 5 1-2 13, Shawver 6 0-0 12, Norris 0 0-0 0, Gildea 0 0-0 0, Maysonet 0 0-0 0, Grove 0 0-0 0, Gardner 0 0-0 0, T. Grissinger 0 0-0 0, Barton 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20 5-12 51.
CENTRAL (82): Cunningham 1 0-1 2, Greenland 5 0-0 10, Mills 3 2-2 8, Slagenweit 5 7-10 19, Patterson 7 6-9 20, Brumbaugh 0 0 0-0 , Vollkommer 1 2-4 4, Forshey 2 0-0 6, Lafferty 3 3-5 10, Helsel 0 0-0 0, Kensinger 0 1-2 1, Ayers 0 0-0 0, Mellott 1 0-0 2, Post 0 0-0 0. Totals: 28 21-33 82.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Juniata Valley17 16 9 9- 51
Central 15 22 19 26-82
3-point field goals: Juniata Valley 6 (Gable 2, Taylor 2, Collins 2); Central 5 (Slagenweit 2, Forshey 2, Lafferty).
Records: Juniata Valley (0-1); Central (1-0).
Officials: Teresa Laratonda, Lynn Smith, Rick Dickenson.
WIILIAMSBURG (44): Dishong 3 4-6 10, J. Morrissey 1 1-6 3, Fay 5 3-4 15, Appleman 0 0-0 0, Palmer 4 1-2 9, Ross 0 0-0 0, Butler 0 0-0 0, Biddle 1 1-3 3, Young 2 0-1 4, Shaw 0 0-0 0, Michelone 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 10-22 44.
PENNS VALLEY (34): Ulmanic 2 0-2 4, Ott 1 0-0 3, Jackson 1 0-0 2, Weaver 1 0-0 2, Tobias 3 0-0 7, Alexander 0 2-2 2, L. Johnson 3 1-2 7, Collison 0 0-0 0, Pearce 1 0-0 3, S. Johnson 0 0-0 0, Beamesderfer 1 0-0 2, DeGarmo 1 0-0 2, Engle 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 3-6 34.
3-point field goals: Williamsburg 2 (Fay 2); Penns Valley 3 (Ott, Pearce, Tobias).
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Williamsburg 6 10 14 14-44
Penns Valley7 10 4 13-34
Records: Williamsburg (1-0); Penns Valley (0-1).
