Yes, a basketball team can dig itself a 20-6 hole in the first six minutes of play and survive.
Particularly if that team outscores its opponent 59-23 in the final 26 minutes of the game. That's what #1 seed Centennial did March 18 to #4 Gilbert to put an exclamation point on the boys basketball program's first trip to a state title game.
Sophomore wing Emery Young kept the Coyotes close with five points off three offensive rebounds in the final 90 seconds of the first half. Junior point guard Abe Rangel operated the Centennial transition game in the second half and junior shooting guard scored 8 of his 20 points in the fourth to close out the 67-53 victory in the 5A semifinal.
