BRIDGEPORT -- After scoring his final layup of the night and getting fouled, Westhill guard CJ Donaldson flexed his right bicep to let people know even though he is the shortest player on the court, he is still a force to be reckoned with.
Donaldson scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half as Westhill held on to beat Central 69-68 Friday night.
Donaldson, who is originally from Bridgeport, said playing in front of his old hometown helped motivate him in the second half.
"I have to come out and play basketball, I can't just wait until the second half because sometimes it could be too late," Donaldson said. "I want to go after the Bridgeport schools, you know. It's always a fun game playing the Bridgeport schools and I know they are going to attack me and I have to come back with something."
And as for the flex.
"I got to show them I got muscles, man," Donaldson said. "I'm not that little."
A year after Westhill (14-1, 13-0 FCIAC) handed Central (7-, 6-6) its only loss, the Hilltoppers could not return the favor.
Jeremiah Livingston of Westhill and Marcus Blackwell of Central each finished with 28 points, leading all scorers.
The Vikings looked to be in control up nine with 15 seconds left but 3s by Dyshaun Pulliam and Blackwell cut the lead to 3 with 4.2 left. Livingston made a free throw, pushing the lead to four and making Blackwell's 3 at the buzzer moot.
It was Blackwell's work on the boards which helped bring Central back from a 25-12 deficit after one quarter.
"Everything starts with Marcus," Central coach Barry McLeod said. "It has been a pleasure for the past four years coaching him and it is going to be tough to see him go. He's just a model on and off the court. He's a super kid and everything starts with him and his effort on the court."
Central got within two midway through the third quarter but a 12-2 run by the Vikings closing out the quarter, put them up 12 after three.
Westhill coach Howard White said he would like to see his team close out teams with more authority, but anytime you can walk out of Central with a win, you take it.
"The win is what counts but there are some things that we seriously have to fix," White said. "I have been pleading with my team and if we don't fix what we need to fix we are going to be in trouble."
Scott.Ericson@scni.com; @EricsonSports
WESTHILL (14-1, 13-0)
Jeremiah Livingston 8 10-11 28; CJ Donaldson 6 4-5 16; Tyrell Alexander 5 0-0 11; Brendon Thomas 0 4-4 4; Leonold Auguste 1 0-0 2; Juan De La Cruz 4 0-0 8. Totals: 24 18-20 69
CENTRAL (7-7, 6-6)
Dyshaun Pulliam 4 2-4 12; Dondre Daniels 4 4-5 12 ; Marcus Blackwell 11 3-4 28; Charles Richardson 2 0-0 4; Jonathan Hartley 1 0-0 2; Joaquin Johnson 3 3-4 9. Totals: 25 12-17 68
WESTHILL 25 8 21 15--69
CENTRAL 12 16 13 26--68
3-point field goals: W -- Livingston 2; Alexander. BC -- Blackwell 3; Pulliam 2
Fouled out: None
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