Whenever the Century crowd shows its appreciation for Braden Davis, it usually has little to do with scoring. One thing you can always count on from No. 3 is hustle, energy and effort from the moment his number is called.
“He’s our emotional leader,” Century coach George Wunder said. “He gives everything he’s got the second he steps on the court. He’s 5-foot-10, but he plays like he’s 6-4.”
Tuesday night, Davis’ energy lit up the scoreboard at the biggest moment. The crowd erupted when Davis banked in a critical 3-pointer in the fourth quarter. He followed it with another clutch 3 on the next possession, sparking a game-clinching run that lifted Century to a 53-51 victory over Westminster, completing the season sweep of the Owls.
“It was a really good basketball game between two really good teams,” Wunder said. “It was a big win for us in this county.”
The night began in familiar fashion for Century — Nate Brown finding his rhythm early. Brown scored 10 of his game-high 24 points in the opening quarter, knocking down two 3-pointers and capitalizing on a Westminster defense that alternated between overcommitting and erroneously sagging off shooters. The Knights took advantage to build an early lead.
“I was seeing space in that zone and attacking,” Brown said. “We were swinging the ball, doing what we’re taught to do, and it helped us get off to a good start.”
The Owls fought back behind strong early minutes from Paul Burgee and Shae Greenwood, as Century struggled offensively during a stretch with Brown on the bench and Westminster better executing its defensive game plan.
Trailing by six at halftime, Burgee came out on fire, hitting two 3-pointers as the Owls received key contributions from him and Aiden Lavender while chipping away at the deficit. Luckily for Wunder, he got productive minutes from Davis and Evan Williams, who anchored the paint defensively.
“We’re so comfortable with each other out there,” Brown said. “We had guys crashing the boards and getting to the line. We always find ways to win.”
As both coaches urged their teams to protect the ball amid turnovers and loose balls late, Greenwood knocked down a pair of clutch buckets to tie the game with just over two minutes remaining. Charlie Mollman recorded his usual production for Westminster, finishing with a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double while battling Davis inside.
Davis continued to do whatever Century needed down the stretch. He rebounded, played tight on-ball defense and battled despite being undersized compared to Westminster’s top scorers.
“I’m probably one of the smallest guys on the floor,” Davis said. “But if I hustle as hard as I can, I know I can make a big impact.”
Most importantly, he made the right decisions. Stationed in the middle of the Owls’ zone, Davis earned Wunder’s trust as he caught the ball, surveyed the floor and made smart passes late. That confidence culminated in his biggest decision — taking an open 3-pointer after Westminster left him unguarded.
“My first thought was, ‘Nate Brown is open, give me one more [pass],’” Wunder said with a smile. “But it went in, so it’s a great shot.”
Davis then sealed the win at the line, where he and William each knocked down free throws in the final moments. With two hard-fought wins, one over their archrival and the other against the team they shared the county championship with last season; the Knights left the gym elated, but not satisfied.
“We know we can’t get too cocky,” Davis said. “We’ve got to stay humble and approach every game with the mindset to keep working hard.”
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Century 53, Westminster 51
C- Nate Brown 24, Braden Davis 11, Evan Williams 7, Gavyn Hadwin 3, Alex Gonzalez 3, Carter Simmen 3, Brayden Zmarzly 2
W- Paul Burgee 15, Shae Greenwood 15, Charlie Mollman 12, Brandon Barrett 5, Logan Hoot 2, Ty Anderson 1, Aiden Lavender 1