The University City (UC) Centurions defeated the Clairemont Chieftains, 65-35, in a non-league men’s basketball game at UC last Friday, Jan. 5.
“We had a very good performance tonight,” said 6-foot-3 Centurion guard Brooks Dougherty. “We’re a defensive team. When we get after it defensively, the offense usually comes around.”
This time, it didn’t take long to come around as consecutive baskets by Dougherty, 6-6 forward David Washington and 6-4 forward Davy Hart gave UC a quick 6-0 lead to open the game. A free throw by Hart, a 3-pointer by Malcolm Decatur and a bucket by James Drogin made it 12-2 in favor of the Centurions at the end of the first quarter.
“We played really well,” said Drogin, a 6-foot guard. “We came out and played tough defense. That’s how we win games ” with our defense.”
The defense continued to shine as UC created a cushion of 20-2 early in the second quarter. Meanwhile, on offense, the Centurions got three baskets from Drogin and two from Dougherty to close the period and put UC up by a score of 32-11 heading into the locker room at halftime.
“I didn’t have what I would call a spectacular game,” Dougherty said. “I just did what I had to do. But I didn’t do anything special.”
After the intermission, the Centurions continued to look like a special team as they closed the third quarter with buckets by Hart, 6-4 forward Demetris Barksdale and 5-9 guard Mark Hills to extend their advantage to 50-26.
“I missed some easy shots,” Drogin said. “Everything worked out, though. It was OK.”
The fourth quarter was more than OK for UC as the Centurions got baskets from Hart, Washington, Decatur, 6-3 forward Gatulak Lam, 6-3 forward Daniel Andrade, 6-1 guard Royce Pollard and 5-11 guard Romulo Apostol to pretty much seal the victory.
“We can go far this year,” said Drogin of a Centurion team that improved its record to 13-2 with the win over Clairemont. “I think we’ll make it to at least the Division II semifinals.”
“There are only three or four teams in Division II that are as good as us,” Dougherty said.
Hart led UC with 14 points and was followed in the scoring column by Dougherty (10), Drogin (8), Decatur (7), Hills (7), Washington (4), Barksdale (4), Lam (4), Pollard (3), Andrade (2), and Apostol (2).
Meanwhile, Moala Tatuaa led the Chieftains with 18 points.