Centennial, Rice fly past Waukegan
By Drake Skleba
All the talk before this battle between the 2009 Class 3a champ Centennial and Class 4a runner-up Waukegan was the latter's Illinois-bound Jereme Richmond.
Everyone forgot about the other D I recruit in the game, 6-foot-3 senior G Rayvonte Rice, who is headed to Drake.
Rice put on a show for the home folks with 32 points, seven rebounds and three steals to lead Centennial (9-0) to an amazingly easy 71-54 win over No. 3 Waukegan (5-2).
"It's all about team here at Centennial," said a humble Rice. "I had a good night, but it would not have been possible without my great teammates."
Charger senior guard Tiger O'Neil (13 points) hit three first quarter treys to get the Centennial attack going in the first quarter.
Along with a dozen from Rice, Jeff Johnson added seven points and five assists, and Josh Piper had nine points and five first-half boards. The Chargers held a 41-26 lead as the two squads headed to the locker rooms.
Centennial opened up its largest lead of the night at 52-33 with 2:50 left in the third quarter.
Waukegan (5-2) closed the quarter with an 11-2 run, led by Richmond. The Bulldogs cut the lead to 10 at 54-44 after three quarters.
Waukegan's Quan Connor(seven points) scored to open up the fourth quarter and bring the Bulldogs to within eight at 54-46. Waukegan turned over Centennial and had the ball looking to continue its 13-2 run.
But Rice stole the ball,and threw down a thunderous slam that electrified the large hometown Champaign crowd.
The dunk ignited an 8-1 Charger run that put the game away.
Rice added: "We ran our offense so well today. It opened up the middle for me to get a number of good looks at the basket. The whole team was motivated to play Richmond and Waukegan.This was a good win."
Six-foot-8 twin towers, senior Johnson and junior Piper, had great all-around games for the Chargers.
Johnson finished with nine points, six rebounds and 10 assists. Piper scored 13 points and had five rebounds.
"We feel we are an outstanding team," said Centennial head coach Tim Lavin.
"We are such a great passing team and we really excelled at that today.
"Rayvonte put on a great show for us today, but as he said, it was a complete
team victory for us."
Future Fighting Illini Richmond had a good game with 21 points and 12 rebounds. However he was kept under control by Centennial's big front line.
Senior G Aaron Johnson added 14 for the Bulldogs. Waukegan lost for the second time in as many nights after a 78-71 loss to Columbia (Georgia) Friday.
Premium Preps will be with the Bulldogs Tuesday as they head to Park Ridge for a
CSL South battle for first place against Maine South (6-0, 1-0).
