Men's Basketball: Centenary Cyclones Vs. Saint Elizabeth

The Centenary Cyclones men’s basketball team faced Saint Elizabeth on senior night in a matchup filled with urgency and emotion. Both teams took the floor with energy, their voices echoing through the gym as they moved through crisp shooting drills and warmup layups.

At the opening tip, senior forward Justin Carbone and senior forward Roman Carone set the tone early, attacking the basket with strong finishes through contact.

Saint Elizabeth jumped out with early momentum in the first quarter, but the Cyclones responded by matching the intensity with efficient ball movement and aggressive defense that sparked fast-break opportunities.

Although Saint Elizabeth maintained a narrow lead, the Cyclones stayed composed on both ends of the floor. Senior guard Devin Strickland provided a spark with a smooth fast-break layup, shifting momentum back in favor of the home team. 

As the game tightened and the physicality increased, the Cyclones capitalized at the free-throw line, battling back despite trailing by three. The team played with heart and grit, refusing to allow Saint Elizabeth to pull away. 

As halftime approached, the score was 37-41. It was a close game and both teams put up an intense fight on the court. Head coach Chris LaBelle and his team looked forward to entering the second half with renewed momentum and efficient enthusiasm on offense and defense.

After halftime, both teams returned to the court and played aggressively as the audience heard the squeaks of the court and the sound of the basketball dribbling.

Junior guard Kenneth Rankin got his team going with two strong drives to the basket, following up with a fast break dunk that erupted the crowd with excitement. 

The beginning of the quarter started off competitively with a back and forth battle. The Cyclones scored one possession and Saint Elizabeth responded. 

The offensive rhythm slowed up for both teams as fouls were called, but that didn’t prevent our Cyclones from executing their mission to secure the win.

Junior point guard Darnell Forest tied the game up with a clutch three-pointer to tie the game, following up with two free throws to give the Cyclones their first lead of the game.

The back and forth battle continued between both teams as the game was very close. With an intense battle tonight, the Cyclones’s victory remained the headline of the night. The team battled through adversity, maintained their composure for most of the contest, and secured a hard fought win at home. 

Coach Chris LaBelle and his team moved ahead in conference play. The Cyclones remain focused on growth, unity, and finishing strong, channeling their energy where it matters most.