The Central Mustangs and Southwest Bulldogs each took turns holding a one-point lead through almost all four quarters of Wednesday’s ninth-grade match-up at Central Junior High. A three-point shot from Southwest late in the fourth pushed the team on the right track to grab the 56-48 victory.

However, the beginning of the game started much different. After Central stole the beginning tip-off, Jack Sanner swooped in to sink the team’s first bucket after a minute and two seconds ticked off the clock. Chris Wildgen followed up his teammate with a three-point shot that flew in from the side.

Bulldog Bobby Davis’ three-point attempt fell short, but allowed the team to nab the rebound. Another two attempts from Davis turned the ball again into two put-backs, with the help of Paul Eltschinger. Lance Kilburn also showed himself to be an asset to Southwest with a speedy set of steals. Eltschinger eluded three different Central defenders to break into the lane, drew the foul and sunk both shots from the charity stripe. Davis checked into the game to grab another bucket for Southwest.

Central’s Denzell Payne answered back with a steal and a quick basket. After another three-pointer, Clifton Sims leapt in with a coast-to-coast lay-up.

Davis answered Centrals’ rally with a three-point bucket to end the quarter, Central trailing Southwest by one.

Into the second, Central’s Dylan Ballinger got the rebound and coverted it into two points, giving the Mustangs their first lead of the game. Chuck Hunter was a force on the boards, getting the rebound and assisting Sanner for two followed by a three-pointer to extend Central’s score to 27.

Southwest stayed close with a steal from Dorian Green that led to a back door lay-in. Kilburn and Eltschinger tagged teamed it late in the second to bring home some points for Southwest with a basket apiece. Three points from the free-throw line from Green and Eltschinger and a final basket in the last 30 seconds gave Southwest a 28-27 lead heading into halftime.

Starting the second half Southwest appeared to have some holes in their defense when Central’s Payne broke through defenders to slam in a bucket. Sean Brown pulled another fast break from defenders seconds later for a fast break opportunity. Two more swishers from Sanner and another bucket from Payne and Central regained the lead. After the game, Southwest players said they could have secured a lead on Central after the half had they played stronger defense.

“I think stepping up our defense got us back in the game,” Eltschinger said. “Our coach gave us a pep talk and we came back.”

Southwest found their strength late in the third and got their heads back in the game with a bucket from Matt Frantz and two from Kilburn, but even after finding their second wind Southwest still closed out the trailing Central by one.

Southwest carried the momentum fron the third over and broke the one-point buffer between the two teams.

After Eltschinger’s steal, Southwest proceeded to hit their mark with Green tipping in two baskets and making two free throws. A three-pointer later on added gave the Bulldogs some breathing room. A final bucket from Green and Kilburn, coupled with five points from a barrage of free throws, accounted for the final points of the game.

Making the free throws down the stretch proved too much for Central to overcome. “I was just glad to win today,” Green said. “It is always good to beat another city team. We hustled a lot too.”

Even with Southwest the winner, Central still went home proud of the match-up.

“I think it was a great game that was highly contested,” Central head coach Gary Hall said after the game. “The kids all played really well. I wish the outcome would have been a little different but it was an exciting game and we are getting better. It takes a while to develop.”

Hall said he looks forward to watching his team develop and have the chance to play against other city teams in the future.