Central Downed at the Buzzer in Heartbreaker

SAN ANGELO, TX-- Killeen was down for the majority of the game, but came roaring back in the final two minutes of the game to beat Central on a last second layup that catapulted them over the Runnin’ Cats by a score of 65-63.

“We rebounded the ball pretty well up until the last two and a half minutes,” said Central Head Coach Dustin Faught. “We just shot ourselves in the foot on the offensive end of the floor, but unfortunately we had the same thing on the defensive end  of the floor where we had opportunities to capitalize on a miss, but gave up offensive rebounds and they got second chance points”.

The  Runnin’ Cats started the game off on the right foot going up early in the contest with the score at 16-12 in favor of Central after one quarter.

The first half was a team effort all around for Central who doubled their first quarter lead going into the half.

Durriell Taylor led the charge for the Runnin’ Cats with 10 of his total 18 points coming in the first half of play.

Things looked good for for Central going into the third as they carried a 33-25 lead with them, but Killeen would not go away.

In the third quarter Killeen continued to cut into their deficit by limiting Central’s top scores Taylor and Deveruax Minix.

Going into the fourth quarter the Runnin’ Cats had a 50-45 lead over Killeen, but the game was far from over as Central allowed the game to stay close throughout.

Minix sank a couple big shots to extend the lead early in the fourth, but a timid Central team that led by 10 points with less than three minutes to go allowed Killeen back into the game late.

“I thought we got extremely timid. We were up ten with two and a half minutes to go, they were already having to get desperate,” said Coach Faught. “We just couldn't make them pay for it tonight. Each trip down the floor other than two free throws was a turnover.”

With less than 10 seconds left to go in the game Central had a chance at a second consecutive game winner, but blew their opportunity to close out the game.

A costly turnover under their own basket resulted in a buzzer beating layup by Killeen to put them up 65-63 as the game ended.

Last week was jubilation, this week heartbreak for a Central team that looked like it was just starting to get its footing.

Central will look to get back on the winning track in an away game at Belton on Friday February 2 at 6pm.