Warrior boys edge Irving College on Prater’s late shot

Baskets were hard to come by for Centertown and Irving College in the first period during the boys fifth- and sixth-grade game Thursday night at Centertown. But some last-second heroics by the Warriors’ Micheal Prater gave Centertown the 30-29 win.

Aaron Taylor hit the Tigers only basket in the first period, while Centertown got two points each from Prater and David Lee for a two-point lead.

In the second period the Tigers’ Taylor once again scored all of Irving College’s points in the period, with two baskets.

On the other end of the floor Centertown hit for eight points with baskets from Coty Orrick, Drew Tanner and Tucker Smith for a 12-6 lead at the break.

Second-half action saw Centertown hit for seven points in the third, while the Tigers added five points as the Warriors held a 19-11 lead.

Irving College went to work on offense in the final period with Taylor and Justin Woodlee, and held a one-point lead with seven seconds left on the clock.

But Centertown took the ball, working it down low to Prater, who hit with 4.9 seconds left in the game and gave the Warriors a one-point lead.

The Tigers had little time left to move the ball down the floor and the horn sounded giving the Warriors the victory.

For the Warriors, Coty Orrick hit for 12 points. Ryan Fults, Lee, Tanner and Prater had four points each and John Martin added two points.

Taylor led all scorers, pacing Irving College’s efforts with 21 points. Woodllee hit for six and Dustin Moran added two points.