“This group has gone a long way from where we started the year,” Cupps said. “If you asked me at the beginning of the year if we were going to win district finals getting ready to go to regionals, I would have said no way. But they’ve done a good job of buying into roles.”
»PHOTOS: Centerville advances to regional semifinals
The Elks (15-11) will face a familiar foe in Cincinnati Moeller (25-1) at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday at Cintas. Lakota East, a 33-32 winner over Beavercreek, meets Cincinnati La Salle in the 8 p.m. semifinal. La Salle defeated St. Xavier 60-52 in overtime.
Moeller, which routed Springboro 65-25, defeated the Elks in the regional final last year on the way to its second straight state title. The two teams play every season, and Moeller won 57-46 at Centerville on Jan. 4. Moeller has won 80 straight games against Southwest District teams since a loss to Wilmington-led Jarron Cumberland in 2016.
“It’s always the big team that we always want to play against,” Njie said. “People always ask what are you going to do against Moeller? These next two days just practice and get ready for them. Nothing more to it.”
Cupps said he doesn’t expect his team to be intimidated because of the familiarity with the Crusaders.
“The problem is they’re just really, really good,” he said. “You’ve got to really play and perform if you want to beat them. We just have to be really good.”
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Njie and freshman point guard Gabe Cupps have been the Elks’ top scorers this season. But sophomore wing Rich Rolf is averaging 13.3 points in tournament play after averaging 6.8 during the regular season. He scored 12 and had 17 rebounds against West.
“My teammates told me to go out and be aggressive, and that’s helped my confidence,” Rolf said. “And it’s helped the team.”
West (14-12) is used to a faster pace and more scoring. Leading scorers Julian Mackey had 16 points and Carter Combs five.
“We knew going in that their size and their length was going to be a problem, and it proved to be true,” West coach Jim Leon said. “Julian and Carter had trouble getting shots off. For them to keep the pace down and play that good defensively, it hurt us.”
Centerville led 34-24 entering the fourth quarter. West quickly cut the lead to 34-28, and Cupps got a technical when he objected to an offensive foul called on his team with 6:18 left. At 5:59, Leon reacted strongly to a play and came out on the floor out of the coach’s box and got a technical. Cupps complained to the officials about Leon being out on the floor. Words were exchanged between the coaches. After the free throws, the Elks led 35-30. The lead shrunk to 41-40 on a Mackey 3-pointer, but the Elks scored the final seven points.
After the game, Leon declined to shake hands with Cupps.
“They won the game and give them all the credit,” Leon said. “I acted unprofessionally and I apologize for that. I shook everybody’s hand but his, and if I see him I’ll apologize. Emotion got the best of me.”
Cupps said, “He didn’t want to shake my hand, so that’s fine. It’s heat of the moment. That’s his choice. I get caught up in the moment, too. So I’m not going to judge for him reacting like that. He’s fighting for his kids.”
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