Tigers close strong, win 67-58

Darnell Wilks showed his explosiveness in the final period, scoring 12 of his game-high 19 points to lead the Central past Farmington 67-58 on Friday night.

But Wilks needed an assist from David Deisher, who scored 10 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and drew four charges in a foul-filled home opener for the Tigers.

Central (4-3) outscored Farmington (1-6) 13-3 to close out the game's final 3 minutes and 17 seconds and secure the win. Deisher, a 6-foot-4 senior, and Wilks, a 6-8 junior, did much of the damage.

"David Deisher played really well for us," Central coach Derek McCord said. "And Darnell Wilks had a big fourth quarter for us. He made some big shots."

Wilks, who sat out most of the first three quarters with foul trouble, took over for Central in the final 5 minutes. He scored 12 of Central's last 18 points.

Wilks' barrage began just after Deisher drew his fourth charge of the game and second of the final period. Wilks hit a fadeaway jumper with 4:37 to play and then hit another long jumper on the next possession to put Central ahead 54-53.

Farmington, which had battled from an early 7-0 deficit and then closed to eight-point deficits twice in the second period, had the answer for those possessions.

Tigers pull away

But after Deisher hit a free throw to tie the game at 55-55 and then scored on a putback with 2:41 to go, Central was never headed.

The Tigers sealed it when Deisher grabbed a rebound and sent a long outlet pass to Wilks, who let the ball drop over his shoulder and then made the layin. He then drew a foul on the ensuing inbound and made a free throw to put Central ahead 60-55 with 1:10 to play.

Farmington missed five free throws in a 3 1/2-minute stretch while Central made its run.

But the Black Knights didn't help themselves in a couple areas.

They made just 7 of 16 free throws.

And they committed 33 fouls, 20 in the second half, and had three players foul out.

Farmington took advantage of Wilks' foul trouble in the first half.

After Wilks had two dunks and picked up two fouls in the first 6 minutes, the Knights outscored Central 5-0 in the final 2:10 of the first period when Wilks was on the bench. The late flurry allowed the Knights to claim a 17-16 lead.

Central built a 31-23 lead in the second period. But by then, Wilks was on the bench with his third foul and Farmington battled back for a 32-32 halftime tie.

Wilks picked up his fourth foul a little more than 3 minutes into the second half with the score tied 36-36. This time, though, Farmington committed almost as many fouls (eight) as they had points (nine) to close out the quarter.

Wilks finished with five steals.

Adrian Cox added 10 points for Central, including a nifty reverse layin and a long 3-pointer.