Words: Naomi Batten

On Thursday, December 6, The Centennial Eagles Boys Varsity Basketball team took their first flight and landed at Oakland Mills, home of the Scorpions. Their flight ended with the score 48-53, with Oakland Mills taking the victory.

Last year’s number one County and Regional champions, the CHS Eagles, are making a big transition this year, with lots of new faces on the team. This years players include Seniors Joe Eads, Omari Ringgold, Bradley Benson, Zach Olmstead, Kendall DeVries, Timi Tinuoye, and Kyle Ruygrok, along with returning Juniors Walter Fletcher and Chase Conely. New additions to the team include, Juniors Stephen Driscoll, Matt Ung, Logan Tignall, and Robert Wilkin.

The expectations for the Eagles are very high this season, thanks to their 17-2 overall record the previous year. Thursday, they started off fairly ending the quarter 12-18, Scorpions up. Still trailing behind OM in second quarter with an ending score of 24-27. Towards the second half of Thursday’s game the Eagles stepped it up, ending the quarter 40-37, Eagles up. Eagles being up in the fourth quarter by 3, OM Scorpions caught up to Centennial Eagles, tying the game 40-40. With 8 minutes left on the clock, both teams battled for the victory. The game went to Oakland Mills with a final score of 48-53.

With Centennial’s new starting line up, the season will be very different from last year and the team will have to adjust. By the turn around and burst of energy and endurance shown in the second half of Thursday’s game, the Eagles will be just fine. The Eagles are very structured and disciplined and should have no problem showing that in this week’s game. The Eagles are going up against Mount Hebron Vikings, Wilde Lake Wildcats, and Atholton Raiders in the coming weeks. Playing their rival Hebron on Monday (12/10), the Eagles are going to soar.