TORONTO - Up 10 with 24.9 seconds left in the game and with one last shot for the Centennial Colts before the shot clock turned off, Kendell Wilson headed towards the rim and laid the ball up over the contest of Georgian's Carter Dunlop. The ball rolled around before dropping through, sending the bench, Wilson's teammates, and the crowd into a frenzy.

If you were wondering why, that basket made Wilson the first-ever Colt to score 1,000 regular season points. The Colts then called a timeout shortly afterwards and honoured him by presenting him the game ball.

"It lets me know that the hard work I've put in to get to the point that I am really paid off and just to keep going," Wilson said when asked about his emotions after reaching 1,000. "I'm not done yet. I want more."

Wilson scored 11 of his game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter as the Colts (9-4) won their second straight game, beating the Grizzlies (6-5), 77-67, at the Athletic and Wellness Centre.

"No, I didn't," Wilson said when asked if he knew about the potential landmark and ceremony heading into the game. "I think that's what makes this so special. I had no idea at all; it caught me by surprise."

"Myself and the other coaches are extremely proud of Kendell's accomplishments thus far. We've been telling him to be more aggressive on offence, but his personality is so unselfish," Colts head coach Trevor Challenger said. "I was a little stressed out because I wanted him to score the 1K point earlier in the game, but I give credit to the Georgian Grizzlies team defence."

Bailey Burton provided a steady scoring punch for Centennial, finishing with 17 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Jahshua McFarlane finished with a double-double, scoring 10 points and dishing out 10 assists. Jason Dennis came off the bench and had a game-high three steals.

The game was decided in the fourth quarter when Centennial broke the game open by outscoring Georgian, 26-16. The Colts also outpaced the Grizzlies in rebounding (62-43), assists (17-11), and forced Georgian into 18 turnovers. The Colts also used a strong second half offensively shooting 52.6 per cent (20-of-38).

Dunlop came off the bench for Georgian and led them with 14 points. Anthony Meggo was limited to 13 points on 13 shots while Conor Laronde, after scoring 22 in their previous matchup against Centennial, only had 10.

"Our defensive goal was to limit their offensive touches and force them to rush shots," Challenger said. "Both Connor and Anthony are crafty scorers, so we just wanted to slow them down a bit."

"We know that he's a heavy volume shooter so we know that he's going to get his," Wilson said about Meggo. "But we just know that Jahsh(ua McFarlane) can contain him."

Wilson had five points early on to start the game as the Colts took a 13-6 lead. But behind Laronde's seven first quarter points and with Centennial struggling to score after the early lead, the visitors went up 15-14.

Both teams went back and forth in the second quarter but Georgian closed the first half with six straight points as they went up 33-28 at intermission.

McFarlane and Walshak Yusef gave the offence a jolt for Centennial in the third quarter, scoring six points each and Burton had five in the quarter as well.

"Both Walshak and Jahshua have been consistent all season. Both of them are key pieces of our team defence which leads to offensive scores," Challenger said. "Bailey has been providing toughness and low post scoring. He's been huge for us."

But Meggo started to get it going, with eight points in the quarter. A corner jumper from Dennis tied the score at 51 heading into the final frame.

After a three-point play from the Grizzlies' Daniel Martyn to start off the fourth, Centennial scored nine consecutive points and took the lead for good. But a layup from Dunlop, however, in transition, ended the run and forced a frustrated Challenger to call a timeout.

"We challenge our guys to pay attention to detail," Challenger said. "Sometimes you have a mental lapse or a breakdown. Most times this is because of poor communication or positioning. We just have to do a better job on being vocal so we play as one."

The score was 62-57 when Wilson came up with key baskets down the stretch, scoring 11 of the team's last 15 points to close out the game, securing the Colts win.

Despite shooting one for 17 from behind the arc and shooting 36.5 per cent from the field, Centennial limited Georgian to 33.3 per cent shooting to pull off a gritty win.

"We have been playing scrappy and gritty all season. We've learned from our mistakes and we're building from that," Challenger said. "I think tonight's game was tough for us because we couldn't get going offensively." 

"It just lets us know that we don't just need the three ball to win games," Wilson said. "Obviously, it's better if we get some more shots in, especially against a better team in Seneca on Saturday; we're going to need to hit more shots (from) outside. But it's good to know even though our shots are not falling, we can find other ways to win."

Centennial looks to avenge a loss against the Sting in their last meeting and Wilson says the key to winning the game would be to stop Khalil Miller, although it won't be easy.

"Five guys," Wilson said. "Everyone just boxing him out; everyone just has to focus on him."

Challenger says that Miller isn't the only challenge Centennial has to deal with, however.

"Containing Miller, Yusuf Ali and sharpshooter Trevor Hutton. Everyone has to be locked in and on the same page," Challenger said. "Keys on defeating Seneca (are) team defence and communication."

However, for the time being, Wilson will enjoy this moment of history that he achieved.

"It's unbelievable. I'm so excited and I just want to embrace the moment."

Centennial continues their homestand on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. against the unbeaten Seneca Sting.

Source: Centennial College