Centennial’s Fast Start Secures 68–49 Win Over Arizona College Prep

Gilbert, AZ — Centennial set the tone from the opening tip and never slowed down, using defensive pressure and balanced scoring to earn a 68–49 win over Arizona College Prep on Thursday night.

The Coyotes jumped out to a 21–4 first-quarter lead, using ball pressure and active hands to create turnovers that quickly turned into points. By halftime, Centennial’s energy and execution had pushed the margin to 40–17. Johnny Rios set that early tone defensively, picking up full court and forcing Arizona College Prep’s guards into tough situations. His confidence from beyond the arc helped stretch the lead, but his disruptive defense remained his biggest impact.

Senior Sekou Sackor delivered a mix of power and finesse, throwing down highlight dunks and finishing through contact while also knocking down shots from deep — a combination that made him a matchup problem all night. Aidan Delafield added perimeter scoring and strong decision-making, while his defensive hustle showed up in transition blocks and key rebounds. Romell Shields gave the Coyotes another dependable scoring option, hitting threes in rhythm and flashing a smooth mid-range jumper.

As the game progressed, Arizona College Prep began to settle in and find answers on both ends of the floor. Zach Cutler provided a spark late in the second quarter with a mid-range make, then opened the third with a three. Those buckets helped the Knights gain confidence and find better rhythm offensively. Xavier Collier kept attacking inside, finishing tough drives through contact and generating much-needed second-chance opportunities by staying active on the offensive glass.

David Thompson brought energy in the backcourt, getting downhill to set up kick-outs for open shooters and making key defensive plays — forcing ball handlers to pick up their dribble and disrupting Centennial’s flow whenever he was involved.

Arizona College Prep’s improved pace and determination helped them climb back into the game, but Centennial’s dominant start ultimately proved too much to overcome.

Final Score:

Centennial 68 – Arizona College Prep 49