It’s hard to defend a slam dunk.
The Dowling Catholic duo of Charlie Crane and Alfred Kolee combined for 32 points and five dunks as the third-ranked Maroons defeated visiting Ankeny Centennial, 64-46, in a CIML Conference boys’ basketball game on Tuesday.
“Those two guys are 6-10 and 6-8, and they’re hard to guard,” said Centennial forward Luke Mitchell, who led the Jaguars with 15 points. “They’re physical, too.”
Crane scored 23 points on 11-of-16 shooting while also contributing three assists and two blocks. The senior had 15 of his points in the first half.
Kolee, meanwhile, went 4-of-4 from the field with three dunks. The junior finished with nine points and seven rebounds.
The Maroons shot 59.2 percent from the field (29-of-49) and outrebounded Centennial by a 26-13 margin.
“Those two bigs just really hurt us,” said Centennial coach Matt Delger. “The way they won points in the paint and rebounds, that’s pretty much your ball game right there–those two stats.”
Dowling jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the first 3 minutes of the game, but Mitchell then responded with seven straight points for the Jaguars sandwiched around a Kolee dunk.
After Hunter Runchey scored the last two baskets of the first quarter to pull Centennial within 12-11, the Jaguars took their only lead of the game when Mitchell banked in a shot to open the second period.
“I’ve just developed my confidence a whole bunch this year,” said Mitchell, who went 7-of-12 from the field and also had four rebounds, two steals and a block. “I’m just getting more shots up.”
Dowling then answered with an 11-0 run to take the lead for good. Crane and Evan Mitchell each scored four points before Kolee converted a 3-point play to give the Maroons a 23-13 advantage.
Centennial finally halted the run when senior Will Perpich made a layup. Those were his first points of the season.
Dowling held a 34-23 lead at halftime, then broke the game open with a 7-0 run to start the third quarter. Mitchell tried to keep the Jaguars in it, scoring six of his team’s nine points in the period.
“I just love the energy he gives us on both ends of the court–how solid he plays,” Delger said of Mitchell. “He’s often guarded by kids that are much taller and bigger than he is, but he’s going right at them and he’s fearless.”
The Maroons took their biggest lead, 57-34, on Crane’s alley-oop dunk in the fourth quarter. But Runchey got his offense going for Centennial, scoring nine of his 13 points in the period before reserve Grady Knoll added five more points in the final 2 minutes.
Runchey went 6-of-9 from the field. He also dished out five assists.
“What I like is that I think our guys found some spots, some looks (at the basket),” Delger said. “So you just hope you can keep building, keep growing, even when you lose by 20.”
Dowling completed a sweep of the season series. The Maroons improved to 9-1 in the league and 13-1 overall, while Centennial’s records dropped to 2-10 and 4-10.
Mitchell said the Jaguars are looking to peak in the postseason.
“That’s the main goal,” he said. “Go deep in the playoffs and just keep winning.”
Delger is confident that his team has the potential to do that.
“I know we have it in us,” he said. “The matchups are huge, but we’ve grown a lot. Our guys are bought in and they’re detailed and focused. If we can keep doing that into the postseason, we can get somebody.”
The Jaguars will travel to Valley on Friday for a conference game against the Tigers, who are 0-11 in the league and 0-13 overall.
Centennial won the first meeting, 63-45, on Dec. 19.
