By Michael Cignoli (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
SPRINGFIELD – For the first time since 2019, the Central Bulldogs are Kings of the North.
Sterling Vinson led all scorers with 21 points, Antonio Starks-Fewell and Keion Epps added 11 apiece and Central scored a long-awaited 74-58 over archrival Hillcrest on Tuesday at The Pit.
The Bulldogs had been 3-15 against their northside rivals since 2010, with a one-point defeat in Central’s final home game of the 2021-22 season marking their fourth straight loss to the Hornets.
That was the last straw, the Bulldogs determined, and they never trailed en route to their first victory over Hillcrest since December 7, 2019 — a span of 1,137 days.
It was yet another accomplishment in what’s shaping up to be a historic season for the Bulldogs, who are just four years removed from losing 47 games across back-to-back winless campaigns.
“They all knew what kind of game it was coming in,” Central coach Jordan Epps said. “They knew it wasn’t going to be easy. It’s a rivalry game, so no matter what players either team had it was going to be competitive. Our seniors felt how it felt to lose last year in this kind of environment to them and they’ve been pretty hungry all week and ready for this one.”
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Vinson, Starks-Fewell and Keion Epps all hit early shots as the Bulldogs raced out to a 7-2 lead in the first 2:30 and never gave it up — although the game was tied for a span of about 42 seconds in the second quarter.
But Vinson split a pair of free-throws to restore Central’s lead, and the Bulldogs closed the half on a 13-6 run to take a 39-31 lead into the break.
Hillcrest cut the deficit to two points midway through the third quarter and once again less than three minutes into the fourth, but each time Central responded with a run to pull away.
After the Hornets buried a 3-pointer to make it 54-52 with 5:32 to play, the Bulldogs scored 20 of the game’s final 26 points to turn what had been an otherwise close meeting into a runaway.
“I told them during that break before the fourth started that it was our game to lose at that point,” Jordan Epps said. “If we played defense and took care of the ball and made the right basketball plays, then we’ll be victorious. For a minute there, I told them there were going to be runs and we had to minimize their runs and make our runs even bigger. I think we did that.”
In doing so, the Bulldogs picked up their first home victory over the Hornets in at least 14 years. Their other three victories over Hillcrest had been at neutral-site tournament games.
“It means a lot because we broke the streak,” Vinson said. “I don’t remember the last time we beat them. I haven’t beat them ever since I’ve been here actually, so it means a lot.”
Vinson has the unique distinction of seeing the rivalry from both sides, as he spent his freshman year at Hillcrest before transferring to Central and blossoming into an all-conference power.
Ten of his 21 points came in the fourth quarter to help the Bulldogs seal the win.
“When he came here in his sophomore year, he was nowhere near this kind of talent and level that he’s been playing at the last two (seasons),” Jordan Epps said. “He took pride in his game. He took pride in wanting to just be better and do something better and it’s starting to show.”
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE GAME
With Vinson and fellow all-conference pick Starks-Fewell leading the way, the Bulldogs have already improved their win total from last season — the fourth straight year they’ve accomplished that feat.
But Tuesday’s win was extra significant, as the Bulldogs improved to 10-4 and clinched their first double-digit win total since the team went 12-13 in 2014-15 — eight years ago. They’re also within striking distance of securing their first winning season since 2008-09.
“We’re working on being known for being a defensive team,” Jordan Epps said. “Somebody that’s just going to be pestering the heck out of people for the whole 32 minutes of the game. We want to make it really hard and difficult for teams that want to play us.”
Something else that makes Central a tough opponent? Depth.
Ten different players scored for the Bulldogs on Tuesday, and their bench players outscored Hillcrest’s by a 17-7 margin.
“A lot of our bench players stepped up tonight and just showed out,” Starks-Fewell said. “They really played their role and came in and gave us the win.”
The Bulldogs also improved to 2-1 in the Ozark Conference, avenging a 10-point loss at Bolivar last Tuesday. They remain close to the Liberators and Kickapoo, who are both 4-0.
“Especially with us now dropping one to Bolivar, it’s big that every time we play a conference game we come out victorious and just hope that one of those guys that haven’t lost has an off night for us,” Jordan Epps said. “That’ll keep us up there in contention. I think we’re going to compete and play with anybody in the conference that we play against. It’s just us playing our game and doing our job.”
Amarre Clark scored 16 points and AK Staten-Ballance added 12 for the Hornets, who fell to 9-6 (2-2).
There could be a potential Hillcrest-Central rematch at the upcoming Nixa Invitational Tournament, though it will depend on how each squad performs in their first two games of the eight-team event.
The Hornets and Bulldogs would not meet until January 28, if they meet at all.
But Central’s seniors will always remember the night of January 17.
“Anytime you play a rivalry game, it’s always great to come out with that bragging right,” Jordan Epps said. “And it’s nice that people kind of call it Kings of the North, which is awesome because it gives the kids something to play for. A lot of these kids are friends outside of basketball, so to see them just compete against each other and we happen to be victorious – that just made it even better.”
HILLCREST (9-6, 2-2) 15 16 16 11 — 58
CENTRAL (10-4, 2-1) 18 21 13 22 — 74
