After the Centertown Warriors blew through the first round, the Warriors knew it would be a tougher task when they faced the Morrison Eagles on Thursday in the second round of the 5-6 grade preseason basketball tournament.
The Warriors outscored the Eagles in all but the fourth quarter and the three previous quarters gave Centertown the 31-27 win.
Even though Kaden Desmarais led all scorers with 10 points for the Eagles, Blake Adams and Nathan Lemmons each led the Warriors with eight points apiece.
There was not much defense to stop Centertown in the first quarter and the Warriors put up 10 points. Lemmons extended the Warriors' lead when he buried a 3-point basket over the Morrison defense.
The Eagle defense stepped up its pressure in the second quarter and only one point separated the two teams in the second. Hunter Musgrove posted up and dropped in five points just before the half.
A pair of Warriors each scored four points for Centertown. Ashton Griffith and Riley Morton added eight of the 10 points before the half and at the break Centertown led 20-13.
After the half, Centertown stepped up its defensive pressure on the Eagles. All the defensive pressure by the Warriors allowed their offense to lag behind. Adams scored four of the seven third-quarter points by Centertown.
The offense slipped backward in the third quarter and only a pair of shooters found points for Morrison.
Down the stretch for Morrison, Kelton Baker and Desmarais kicked the offense into high gear but it was too little, too late.
The potent offensive attack by Centertown was enough for the Warriors to keep the Eagles grounded and Centertown advanced with a 31-27 win.