Sizing up: Armentrout, Marston lift Falcons to tourney win

By Tommy Keeler Jr. -- Daily Staff Writer

WOODSTOCK -- After being out-rebounded in the first half, Central coach Roger Wilkins gave his team a pep talk about the importance of pulling down the boards in the rest of the game.

The players responded to his words and Central dominated on the boards and used its height advantage to pull out a 70-51 Northwestern District tournament quarterfinal win over Sherando. The fourth-seeded Falcons will play at top-seeded Handley on Wednesday in the semifinals.

"Coach [Wilkins] told us that we were being out-rebounded and that really got us fired up," Central junior Michael Marston said. "Coach [Wilkins] really gets into the game and that really gets us going as well. We know with our size we should have a height advantage over everybody in the district."

Marston is 6-foot-3, while Central senior J.J. Armentrout is 6-foot-4. The pair combined for 33 of Central's points and controlled the interior in the second half.

"We do real well in the high-low," Armentrout said. "It just hit us in the second half of the season that we could really do some damage together. ... It's fun playing with him."

Central (16-7) was clinging to a seven-point lead early in the fourth quarter before finally taking control. Marston scored back-to-back baskets inside to start a 22-3 run and put the game away.

Sherando's Matt Brady hit two free throws early during the spurt to cut the lead to 48-39 with 6:05 left, but Central's Seth Bauserman hit back-to-back baskets to get the Falcons back in a groove.

"I really thought Seth Bauserman was the key to that run," Wilkins said. "I thought his play really got us going. He had a big game for us tonight."

Armentrout and Marston combined for Central's next six points, and as the run continued the fans grew louder and the momentum got bigger for the Falcons.

Kyle Willis and Stuart French hit back-to-back 3-pointers and Armentrout closed out the run with a basket inside to give Central a 66-40 lead with 2:18 left.

"It's like it just hit us that we needed to pick it up and we did," Armentrout said. "Then we dropped a couple 3s and got a couple shots inside, and you could see the outcome on the scoreboard.

"Once we started the run, you could just feel it. We had a great crowd and they were really getting into it. It just seemed like everything was going our way."

The game was close throughout the first three quarters, included being tied at the end of the first and second periods. Sherando's Matt Brady completed a conventional three-point play with 4:52 left in the third quarter to give Sherando its last lead of the game, 29-27.

Central then went on a 14-4 run aided by five points each from Morgan Reynard and Bauserman to build a 41-33 lead with 44 seconds left in the third quarter.

The Falcons had to play without the benefit of a lot of practice time this week. Many of the players have been sick, resulting in Wilkins canceling practice one day and shortening it on two other days.

"It's been a rough week," Wilkins said. "I was really proud of the kids. They really battled out there. They played with a lot of heart."

Sherando (13-10) is also battling illness and had to play without starter James Bowens. Sherando coach Garland Williams said Bowens may have mononucleosis and could be out for the season.

The Warriors were led by Brady with 17 points, while Charles Hudnall added nine.

Despite the loss, Sherando's season may continue. The Warriors can still make the Region II, Division 4 playoffs, but must wait to see what Heritage and Park View do in the Dulles District tournament.

"It's out of our control now, we'll just see what happens," Williams said. "We had a lot of young guys that we had brought up from the JV squad that didn't have any varsity experience. I think everybody gave a good effort tonight."

Armentrout finished with 20 points and nine rebounds, while Marston had 13 points and six rebounds. Bauserman added nine points and eight rebounds for Central.

The victory was the first for the Falcons in a district tournament in six years. Central now hopes to earn a regional berth, which it could accomplish with a win over Handley.

"Winning our first district game in six years is a really good feeling, especially for me being a senior," Armentrout said. "Getting a regional berth would be the cherry on top of our season. We've had a really good season, but making it to regionals would make it even sweeter."

* Contact Tommy Keeler Jr. at tkeeler@nvdaily.com