In addition to scheduling top-flight competition, Centennial head coach Allen Whitehart points to a key intangible that has served his Knights well as the postseason rapidly approaches: maturity.

Centennial lacked in that department back in November and December, according to Whitehart. But 2010 has brought a new edge, and mental growth – in part – has helped the Knights to the point of controlling their own destiny in Subregion B of Region 6AAAAA entering this week.

“Winning is an attitude, and I felt like our maturity level…we weren’t anywhere near that early on,” said Whitehart. “But now they’re starting to get an understanding for what winning entails.”

Exhibit A: Centennial’s 77-55 win at former No. 1 Milton on Saturday. Just four days after falling at home to the Eagles, 73-66, the Knights game-planned and made the necessary adjustments to stymie Milton and win going away.

“With a few adjustments, we felt we could match up and probably beat them,” Whitehart said on Monday. “The kids executed to perfection. Whenever you’re doing that late in the season, positive results are going to happen.”

The Knights adjusted in-game as well. Trailing 21-12 at the end of one period, Centennial used defensive discipline and team communication to knot the score at the half and run away from Milton in the second half with a 45-23 edge.

Seniors Devonta White and Adrian Rodgers led the charge once more. As they have done in recent weeks, the seniors paced Centennial’s scoring attack.

Whitehart added White’s growth as a leader has helped the No. 5-ranked Knights (17-6) take off.

“His maturity from the beginning of the year to now…He’s playing at such a high level,” said the coach. “But he’s also leading at such a high level.”

With wins over Lassiter and Roswell this week, the Knights would claim the No. 1 Region Tournament seed from 6BAAAAA.

GIRL’S TEAMS STAY HOT

Milton, Alpharetta, and Chattahoochee are catching fire at the right time.

Entering tonight’s region matchup at Milton, both the Lady Eagles and the Lady Raiders of Alpharetta are riding winning streaks.

Milton (17-4) has yet to lose in 2010, ripping off 10 consecutive victories, while the Lady Raiders (13-10) have won seven straight behind the strong play of freshman Kylee Smith. Alpharetta recently swept the regular season series with Roswell.

The Lady Cougars of Chattahoochee (16-6) have won 12 of 14 entering tonight’s region home game versus Duluth. Included in the run was a 55-41 victory over Top-5 Mill Creek last week.