Centennial boys basketball team shakes off slow start to beat Rimpau rival Santiago – Press Enterprise

CORONA — Twelve.

That is number of consecutive shots the Centennial boys basketball team made during a 9 1/2-minute stretch of Friday night’s Big VIII League showdown at Santiago.

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Santiago guard Evan Nayback (2) shoots over Centennial guard Josh Agbo (11) in the Big VIII League boys basketball game in Corona on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

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And the Huskies needed each and every one of those shots. Centennial trailed by nine points a minute into in the second period, but the Huskies turned the tables with that shooting streak. Santiago made several pushes during the second half, but Centennial held on for a 71-66 win to secure the No. 1 seed for the league tournament.

Friday’s game was a master class in offensive efficiency, with Centennial draining 27 of 43 shots from the field (62.8 %), and Santiago sinking 26 of 43 shots (60.4 %).

“I thought we showed real toughness tonight, especially after a slow start,” Centennial coach Josh Giles said. “These are the games we found a way to lose last year.”

Centennial (22-5 overall, 5-0 in league) actually missed four of its first five shots Friday evening, making the Huskies’ final shooting percentage even more impressive.

Santiago (24-4, 4-1) was seeking its first victory in the “Battle of Rimpau” rivalry series in 14 years. The Sharks made 8 of 13 shots and led 18-9 after the first quarter. Keziah Law and Ethan Wadman scored five points apiece during the opening period, but the Sharks saw all five of their starters contributing points to a sizzling start.

As is usually the case with Centennial’s big runs, Friday night’s second-quarter surge started on the defensive side. The Huskies forced seven turnovers in the period, including a pair of shot-clock violations. Centennial made its final 10 shots of the half, sparking a 22-3 run that turned a nine-point deficit into a 10-point halftime lead.

“We started playing harder on defense and pressuring them out of their offense,” said Isaiah Rogers, who scored 22 points to lead the way for the Huskies on Friday. “The tempo picked up and we started playing faster, which is how we want it. … I think we did a really good job moving the ball around and getting everyone touches.”

Rogers had seven of the final 22 points for the Huskies, but the run was kickstarted by Carter Brown, who came off the bench to score six points in the second period. Centennial’s streak of made shots continued to the second half, as Jaidyn Smith and Kai Patton each made a basket during the opening 2 minutes of the third quarter.

“We felt we could make shots to be in the game,” Santiago coach Carlos Castillo said. “We knew we needed stops, and we got lost on their shooters at key moments. Give a lot of credit to Centennial. That 24-5 run was a big difference in the game .We just have to find a way to get one or two more extra stops to finish off the game.”

Centennial led by 10 points entering the final period, and the teams continued to trade shots until the final buzzer. Evan Nayback scored 14 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter to give Santiago a fighting chance. Wadman also sank a pair of 3-pointers, including one that cut the deficit to 69-66 with 5 seconds on the clock.

Rogers scored 11 of his points in the final period, and his two free throws with 1.6 seconds remaining helped Centennial seal its 26th consecutive win over the Sharks.

“We kept executing on offense,” Rogers said about holding off Santiago. “But we really need to do a better job at finishing off games and stopping those runs earlier.”

Centennial dominated this rivalry series between the 2013 and 2024 seasons, with the average margin of victory being 36.3 points. However, the past three meetings have been decided by a combined total of 17 points.

“We definitely are trying to build the rivalry back up,” Castillo said. “My guys are very gritty. We’re not the biggest group, but we are pretty (darn) tough and are going to fight and claw for every possession. We know we are a few possessions away from being the team that comes out on top.”

Jayden Yim made four 3-pointers and scored 14 points for Centennial. Smith and Patton finished with 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Huskies.

Wadman sank a game-high five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points for Santiago. Law and Matt Bernal added 11 and nine points, respectively for the Sharks.

The Big VIII League tournament begins next week. Centennial and Santiago could meet for a second time if both teams advance to the championship game (Feb. 3).

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