Da Matchup Showcase Day 2 | LR Central vs. Fayetteville

Kayla Fletcher
Nov 15
2 min read

A Young Central Squad with Grown-Man Energy

I’ve had this one circled on my calendar since schedules dropped. LR Central is young, but there’s nothing immature about the way they compete under Head Coach Shelby Lewis. Even without three key players — senior guard Clay Blair (injury), Brandon Wright (injury), and Parkview transfer Jayden Slaughter (eligible in January), the Tigers came out with poise, discipline, and relentless pressure.

Fayetteville, led by Coach Brad Stamps, hit the court with size and strength, headlined by returning 6’8 senior DJ Hudson, who bulldozed his way to 18 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 3 blocks. He kept the Bulldogs in it possession after possession.

First Half Breakdown

LR Central’s speed and rebounding edge set the tone early. The Tigers pushed pace, attacked the rim, and kept Fayetteville guessing in transition. The Bulldogs countered with half-court execution and size in the paint, but Central struck last before halftime.

Second Half: The Tigers Shift Gears

Where Fayetteville struggled was matching Central’s quickness on the perimeter and dominance on the glass. The Tigers ran hard, defended harder, and rotated nine deep without much drop-off. And when they needed a closer, three different players were ready to answer the call.

The MVP could have gone multiple directions:

📌 Tre Hope – 18pts, 4reb, 3asst, 4stl, 2blk

📌 Gavyn Holman – 18pts, 4reb, 1asst, 1stl

📌 Daylon “Day Day” Thomas – 16pts, 15reb, 4asst, 1stl

Tre earned it tonight thanks to the most complete stat line, but this was a three-headed takeover.