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WATERTOWN — If there were any doubts whether the Central boys basketball team was going to win a WIAA Division-2 sectional title Saturday afternoon and advance to the State Tournament for the second time in program history, the Falcons put those to bed quickly at the end of the first half.
And what a flurry it was.
With three consecutive steals that led straight to baskets, including an electrifying pull-up 3-pointer from the deep left wing by senior guard Jack Rose at the halftime buzzer that sent the Central student section into pandemonium, the top-seeded Falcons opened up a 17-point halftime lead on their way to a 79-48 blowout victory over second-seeded Oregon in a sectional final at Watertown.
Including the seven quick points in the final minute of the first half, the Falcons went on a game-sealing run of 23-0 over the first and second halves that turned a slim 21-20 lead into a 24-point chasm at 44-20, as the Central fans could start making their plans for Madison well before the final buzzer Saturday.
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The Falcons have now won 16 consecutive games to improve to 25-2 and will head to the Kohl Center for the State Tournament for the second time ever and the first time since 2018. Central will play in the semifinals on Friday, with the Division-2 state title game scheduled for next week Saturday at 6:35 p.m.
State Tournament teams are scheduled to be seeded, one through four in each division, on Sunday.
Playing in Madison for a state title will be the culmination of the standout high school career of Rose, who earlier this season became the program’s all-time leading scorer, along with senior point guard Devin Griffin and senior forward Kenny Garth, all three-year varsity starters for the Falcons.
They saw their season end in the regional finals each of the last two seasons but broke through this season with a regional title and now a sectional title and a trip to the State Tournament.
“With these guys, it’s everything, especially after losing in regionals the past two years,” Griffin said. “… We put in a lot of work every day, and we have a lot of fun. This team’s really gelled well together, so to win it with this team and everything just means a lot to us.”
Central coach James Hyllberg, meanwhile, keeps adding to his resume in what’s already been a legendary career with the Falcons.
Prior to Hyllberg’s arrival for the 2015-16 season, the Central boys program hadn’t won 20 games in a season since 1962. In sevens seasons under Hyllberg, the Falcons have now reeled off four 20-win seasons, six Southern Lakes Conference titles, four regional titles and now two sectional titles.
Central has won its four postseason games so far this year in dominant fashion, too, defeating Delavan-Darien and Waukesha West by 21 and 10 points in regionals and Milton and Oregon by 20 and 31 points in sectionals.
“These guys stepped up,” Hyllberg said Saturday as the Falcons cut down the net inside the Watertown gymnasium. “They came ready to play. I didn’t sense any nerves. They were a confident bunch. I thought we matched up well with their guards.
“We came out ready with confident guys with a lot of passion, determined, (a) will to win. Couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Oregon, which finished its season at 23-5 after rallying from a 17-point deficit to beat top-seeded DeForest in a sectional semifinal Thursday night, hung around early Saturday via the 3-point line. The Panthers went 6-of-14 from beyond the arc in the first half, pulling to within 21-20 with a little over 4 minutes left on a triple from the left corner by junior guard Evan Miles.
But that’s when Central went on its big run, as the Falcons used their switching 1-3-1 and 2-3 zone defenses to wreak complete havoc on Oregon’s offense, forcing 11 first-half turnovers, many leading to easy buckets on the other end.
After Rose’s buzzer-beating 3 ignited the crowd and sent the Falcons into halftime with a 37-20 lead, all that was really left was to play out the second half, and Central just kept building its massive lead.
Despite being guarded pretty well by lengthy 6-foot-3 Oregon senior Deaken Bush, Rose finished with a game-high 19 points, along with five rebounds. Griffin, the pass-first senior point guard, continued his scoring ways of late with 18 points, including 12 in the first half, to go with five assists.
Garth, meanwhile, scored nine of his 10 points in the game’s first 8 minutes and also added three assists, junior forward Wyatt Anderson scored nine of his 11 points in the second half and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds and reserve junior guard Alex Sippy had a big second half, scoring nine of his 11 points for the game after halftime to help the Falcons build their lead.
Hyllberg and his players said they’d enjoy Saturday’s win for a night, maybe for the rest of the weekend, but just reaching the State Tournament was not the ultimate goal this season.
Now, the Falcons will set their sights set on winning the first state title in program history and the second this academic year for the Central athletic program after the girls golf team won the Division-1 state title this fall.
Additionally, Rose was on the boys volleyball team that notched a Division-1 state runner-up finish this fall.
“It feels great,” said Rose, with the sectional title plaque in his arms and the net dangling around his neck. “We’ve been working for this for three years now. So just finally executing, getting here and getting the big ‘dub’ (win), it feels great.
“But we’re not done yet.”
WIAA DIVISION-2 SECTIONAL FINAL
Panzer 4 0-0 11, Schoenecker 3 3-6 11, Miles 2 1-4 7, Bush 2 1-2 6, Bra. Kerns 2 0-2 5, Patterson 1 2-2 5, Kessenich 1 0-0 3, Brockman 0 0-0 0, Rulseh 0 0-0 0, Weink 0 0-0 0, Bry. Kerns 0 0-0 0, McCorkle 0 0-0 0, Gates 0 0-0 0, Kreckman 0 0-0 0, Mihm 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 7-16 48.
Rose 7 3-4 19, Garth 4 1-2 10, D. Griffin 7 2-2 18, Sippy 4 3-5 11, Anderson 4 3-4 11, Mulhollon 1 0-0 2, Simmons 1 0-0 2, Witt 0 2-4 2, E. Griffin 2 0-0 4, Kinzler 0 0-0 0, Smothers 0 0-0 0, Lubkeman 0 0-0 0, Wegel 0 0-0 0, Meininger 0 0-0 0. Totals 30 14-21 79.
Halftime—Central 37-20. 3-point goals—Oregon 11 (Panzer 3, Schoenecker 2, Miles 2, Bush, Bra. Kerns, Patterson, Kessenich), Central 5 (Rose 2, D. Griffin 2, Garth). Rebounds—Oregon 25 (Panzer 4, Schoenecker 4), Central 39 (Anderson 7). Assists—Oregon 11 (Brockman 3), Central 10 (D. Griffin 5). Total fouls—Oregon 16, Central 15. Fouled out—Schoenecker.
IN PHOTOS: The Central boys basketball team’s run to the WIAA Division-2 sectional finals
Central Sectional Semifinal

Central senior Kenny Garth celebrates Thursday night during a WIAA Division-2 boys basketball sectional semifinal against Milton at Wilmot. Senior Jack Rose scored a game-high 24 points, as the top-seeded Falcons won, 72-52, to advance to Saturday’s 1 p.m. sectional final against second-seeded Oregon at Watertown.
Central Sectional Semifinal

Central senior Jack Rose reacts to a play Thursday night during a WIAA Division-2 boys basketball sectional semifinal against Milton at Wilmot. Rose scored a game-high 24 points, as the top-seeded Falcons won, 72-52, to advance to Saturday’s 1 p.m. sectional final against second-seeded Oregon at Watertown.
Central Sectional Semifinal

Central senior Kenny Garth, right, drives past a defender Thursday night during a WIAA Division-2 boys basketball sectional semifinal against Milton at Wilmot. Senior Jack Rose scored a game-high 24 points, as the top-seeded Falcons won, 72-52, to advance to Saturday’s 1 p.m. sectional final against second-seeded Oregon at Watertown.
Central Sectional Semifinal

Central junior Wyatt Anderson celebrates Thursday night during a WIAA Division-2 boys basketball sectional semifinal against Milton at Wilmot. Senior Jack Rose, background right, scored a game-high 24 points, as the top-seeded Falcons won, 72-52, to advance to Saturday’s 1 p.m. sectional final against second-seeded Oregon at Watertown.
Central Sectional Semifinal

Central senior Jack Rose shoots a free throw Thursday night during a WIAA Division-2 boys basketball sectional semifinal against Milton at Wilmot.
Central Sectional Semifinal

The Central student section cheers Thursday night during a WIAA Division-2 boys basketball sectional semifinal against Milton at Wilmot. Led by senior Jack Rose’s game-high 24 points, the top-seeded Falcons beat the second-seeded Red Hawks, 72-52, to advance to Saturday’s sectional final against Oregon at Stoughton.
Central Sectional Semifinal

Central senior Jack Rose goes up for a shot Thursday night during a WIAA Division-2 sectional semifinal against Milton at Wilmot. Led by Rose’s game-high 24 points, the top-seeded Falcons beat the second-seeded Red Hawks, 72-52, to advance to Saturday’s sectional final against Oregon at Stoughton.
Central Sectional Semifinal

Central senior Kenny Garth celebrates Thursday night during a WIAA Division-2 sectional semifinal against Milton at Wilmot.
Central Regional Final

Central senior Jack Rose shoots a technical free throw as teammates, from left, junior John Kinzler, senior Michael Mulhollon, junior Wyatt Anderson and senior Devin Griffin look on during a WIAA Division-2 boys basketball regional final win over Waukesha West on Saturday night in Paddock Lake. Central and St. Joseph competed Thursday night in sectional semifinal games, with the top-seeded Falcons facing second-seeded Milton in the Division-2 field at Wilmot and the second-seeded Lancers facing top-seeded Milwaukee Academy of Science in the Division-4 field at West Allis Central. Both games ended too late to be included in Friday’s edition of the News. For full coverage, visit kenoshanews.com/sports and pick up Saturday’s edition of the News. The winners of Thursday’s sectional semifinals advanced to Saturday’s sectional finals, with a trip to next week’s State Tournament at the Kohl Center in Madison on the line.
Central Regional Final

Central senior Kenny Garth, center, is dismayed after being fouled during the Falcons’ win over Waukesha West on Saturday night in a WIAA Division-2 boys basketball regional final in Paddock Lake. Top-seeded Central plays second-seeded Milton in a sectional semifinal Thursday night at Wilmot with a trip to Saturday’s sectional final on the line.
Central Regional Final

Central junior Wyatt Anderson, with ball, goes up for a shot while drawing contact during the Falcons’ win over Waukesha West on Saturday night in a WIAA Division-2 boys basketball regional final in Paddock Lake.
Central Regional Final

Central senior Devin Griffin, left, gets excited as junior John Kinzler, center, and senior Jack Rose, right, greet him during the Falcons’ win over Waukesha West on Saturday night in a WIAA Division-2 boys basketball regional final in Paddock Lake. Top-seeded Central plays second-seeded Milton in a sectional semifinal Thursday night at Wilmot with a trip to Saturday’s sectional final on the line.
Central Regional Title

Central boys basketball coach James Hyllberg cuts down the net as players, assistant coaches and fans look on Saturday night in Paddock Lake after the top-seeded Falcons’ 53-43 win over fifth-seeded Waukesha West in a WIAA Division-2 regional final game.
Central Regional Final

Central senior Jack Rose, center, points in excitement after Central senior Kenny Garth, right, runs back down the court after dunking Saturday night in Paddock Lake during the top-seeded Falcons’ 53-43 win over Waukesha West in a WIAA Division-2 boys basketball regional semifinal game.
Central vs. Delavan-Darien

Central’s Devin Griffin, left, reads the defense as Delavan-Darien’s Jeremiah Beles, right, gets into a defensive position during a WIAA Division-2 boys basketball regional semifinal game Friday night in Paddock Lake. The top-seeded Falcons won, 61-40, to advance to Saturday night’s regional final against Waukesha West in Paddock Lake.
Central vs. Delavan-Darien

Central’s Kenny Garth eyes a free throw during a WIAA Division-2 boys basketball regional semifinal game against Delavan-Darien on Friday night in Paddock Lake. Garth scored a game-high 18 points, as the top-seeded Falcons won, 61-40, to advance to Saturday night’s regional final against Waukesha West in Paddock Lake.
Central vs. Delavan-Darien

Central’s Kenny Garth, second from left, is fouled by Delavan-Darien’s Erik Cesarz, right, as Logan Mortlock, left, also defends during a WIAA Division-2 boys basketball regional semifinal game Friday night in Paddock Lake. The top-seeded Falcons won, 61-40, to advance to Saturday night’s regional final against Waukesha West in Paddock Lake.
Central vs. Delavan-Darien

Central’s Michael Mulhollon, right, goes up for a shot over Delavan-Darien’s Erik Cesarz during a WIAA Division-2 boys basketball regional semifinal game Friday night in Paddock Lake. The top-seeded Falcons won, 61-40, to advance to Saturday night’s regional final against Waukesha West in Paddock Lake.