SALEM, OR (December 23, 2016) - The Timpview Thunderbirds (UT) upset top-seed Centennial Bulldogs (NV) in the championship game of the Capitol Auto Group Bracket at the Capitol City Classic held at Willamette University.
Timpview, led by senior point guard Levi Wilson (shown in photo below), jumped out of the gate quickly on Centennial, racing to an 18-9 lead after one quarter of play. The Thunderbirds held onto to most of that lead through three quarters and led by 8, 47-39, heading into the final quarter of play.
That's when things got interesting, as nationally ranked Centennial (10-2, ranked #41 by ESPN) rallied to make it a one possession game multiple times in the final stanza behind the heroics of 5-star recruit Troy Brown, Jr. and 6'7 Jake Hutchings.
But with the heady Wilson steadily leading Timpview -- not to mention making 5 of 7 crucial free throws down the stretch -- the Thunderbirds took home the CCC Capitol Auto Group Bracket crown.
Wilson, the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, led Timpview with 23 points.
Brown, meanwhile, led all scores with 27 points in the championship game, while Hutchings added 17.
