Central Gains Finals For Retiring Coach

Central High School, from Prince George's County in the Washington, DC, suburbs, topped the Mavericks of Eastern Tech from Baltimore City, 62-47, in the Maryland State 2A semifinals at Cole Field House on the University of Maryland's campus Friday night. The Falcons face off against Wicomico High School from Salisbury in the state final at 3:00 p.m. at Cole.

Coach Walter Fulton will retire from Central after 22 years following Saturday's matchup. Fulton's has a 338-152 career record (69.0 percent).

Capital hit the first shot with 20 seconds gone in the opening quarter and refused to let the lead go away. Tech got the score back to a two point spead only once, at 6-4. The Falcons 11 point lead after the third quarter was cut to five at 52-47 on sophomore forward Rudy Gay's steal and traditional three-point play with 3:49 on the clock. Senior guard Torrence Tyson's strong move to the basket upped the score 46 seconds later to 54-47. The Falcons scored the next seven points to secure the win.

Capital was led by the seniors: Tyson poured in 18 points, Elbert Dozier 16 and Neal Tucher's 10 points. Dozier tied for the game-high with 10 reounds. Neal and Devon West had game-highs of five assists and five blocks respectively.

Senior Vernon Irvine and Gay had 13 points each with Gay pulling down a game-high 10 rebounds. Antoine McCall added 11 points.