Saugus doesn’t need to sugarcoat this basketball victory

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My reputation and Saugus’ title hopes are good and healthy for at least another week. Behind a balanced scoring attack led by Mario Wright and Joey Dietrich, the Centurions pulled off a 57-38 victory over Canyon on Friday night to stay on the front end of the Foothill League title race.

The Centurions controlled this one from ‘the moment they scored six on us at the beginning,’ according to Canyon center Cody Anderson, and Saugus didn’t let up until it swooshed the life out of the Cowboys. It was the kind of performance that has me feeling pretty good about picking the Centurions to take the league title next month, even if it means antagonizing our blogosphere friends out in Stevenson Ranch.

Still, I find it a little peculiar that Saugus Coach Jeff Hallman could barely peek through the fingers covering his eyes until everything was really said and done.

‘I couldn’t breathe easy until the last three minutes of the game,’ the veteran coach said.

Really, coach? Because your boys had this one wrapped up as soon as they went on that 11-0 run to start the second half. Just listen to what your hardwood adversary had to say:

‘It just didn’t matter how well we played, because there’s nothing we can do when [Saugus] plays like that,’ Canyon Coach Chad Phillips said.

I understand sportsmanship sound bites and quotes are all the rage in this PC world, but let’s not sugarcoat this -- Saugus laid the smackdown on its cross-town rival. And Michael Montgomery-less Hart better be shaking in their headbands right about now because the Centurions are coming down San Fernando Road on Tuesday.

-- Austin Knoblauch

-- Image from www.jupiterimages.com