SpringfieldNewsSun.com

CENTERVILLE —They're not ready for showtime just yet.

In their final dress rehearsal, the Centerville High School boys basketball team tangled with Graham before a crowd of 1,400 on Friday, Dec. 5. Suburb vs. small town. Interior strength vs. superior perimeter play. The Elks won 47-40 over size-challenged Graham in an OHSAA Foundation game that didn't count in the standings.

Graham entered the game with four starters from its Division II final-four team, while Centerville is the reigning four-time Greater Western Ohio Conference champions.

It was a one- or two-possession game until the Elks went on a 15-5 flurry in the waning minutes.

"It was ugly, but it was a win," said Centerville center Matt Kavanaugh. "We found out what we needed to work on. We took advantage of our size and strength."

Graham, whose tallest player is 6-foot-3, had no answer for the 6-foot-10 Kavanaugh. The University of Dayton recruit totaled 21 points and 12 rebounds. From the free-throw line, Kavanaugh went 1-for-7, mirroring his team's frigid shooting (overall, the Elks were 7-for-16).

"I'll be shooting a 100 a day in practice next week," Kavanaugh said.

North Dakota recruit Josh Schuler led the Falcons with 19 points, including 11-of-12 from the line. He only hit 3-of-13 from 3-point range. Overall, Graham was 5-of-22 from beyond the arc (23 percent).

"We took quick shots and needed to be more patient," Schuler said. "Centerville's defense had something to do with that. They are physical and have a lot of length. Their guards are bigger than our tallest player."

"We came down here for a challenge and Centerville gave us one," said Graham coach Brook Cupps, whose team went 26-1 last season. "They are about as physical as any team we'll see and they defend the perimeter well. We just cost ourselves too many offensive possessions with turnovers."