COLLEGE PARK, MD – When Westlake travelled to the Xfinity Center this morning, they had a different ending in mind then what actually happened several hours later. In their minds, they dreamed of being state champions, and for the seniors to go out on top. Instead, they watched as their opponent, the Centennial Eagles celebrate. The game was being hyped in the Xfinity Center as David vs. Goliath.

Westlake has travelled to the state level in years prior, but only to lose in the semifinals. It had appeared they had finally broken through when they beat Linganore. Meanwhile, Centennial has never travelled to the state level. As a team, they got hot at the right time.

The game started off with back and forth scores for a few minutes until a 3 minute scoring drought from both teams to end the quarter. Neither team wanted to budge an inch on the defensive game, and played relentless man-to-man defense. There was constant pressure on the shooters. As a result, the quarter ended with the score being even at 9-9.

In the second quarter, Centennial senior guard Issiah White got hot, and scored 8 points in the quarter, and got the massive Centennial crowd into the game. Westlake struggled to shoot from the floor, but held Centennial down to keep it close going into halftime 24-20. The Centennial crowd began getting into the game, with several chants and fed into the energy of the team.

The second half showed Centennial putting a lock on Westlake’s best scorers, and forcing the Wolverines to change their offensive strategy. Westlake tried to get back into the game, but every time they would get close, Centennial would go on a run to push it out of reach. The fourth quarter began with a 13-0 Centennial run that lasted over 6 minutes. With 2:22 on the clock, a three by Westlake senior Dominic Espeleta was Westlake’s first shot from the field to fall. Centennial outran the Wolverines, and tired out their big men. When the final buzzer had sounded, Centennial was on top by a score of 57-43, and Centennial had won the state championship.

Centennial senior Issiah White put up a game high 18 points, and his fellow senior Chad Strothers put up 12. As the team’s only seniors, they ended their careers as best they could. Westlake was led in scoring by senior Dominic Espeleta with 13 points, and senior Omar Alston with 11 points.

Contact Max Tayman at news@thebaynet.com