February 05, 2025 -- The Centennial High School girls’ basketball team is lighting up the court this season, demonstrating teamwork and resilience with every game. The Stars have powered their way to an impressive 14-1 record, showcasing their dedication to the sport and each other.
"The achievement with the girls team revolves around hard work," said Centennial Athletic Director Gary Davis. "We look at our athletes as leaders within the building, both academically and athletically. [The coaching staff] love to watch them grow on the court and in the classroom."
Centennial Stars team members, including senior Kayla Houston, have delivered commanding performances. Houston recently scored her 1,000th point and is dominating the court. After each game, win, and practice, her sportsmanship is a glue for the team.
"[Houston] was the breath of fresh air that the school needed," said Centennial Head Coach Ernest Bell. "She came in with a winning attitude, which changes the attitude of everybody in the team, especially when you have an infectious personality."
With a winning attitude and infectious personality, Houston performs a delicate balancing act off the court. Houston participates in a rigorous education internship at Stewart Elementary and hopes to take this real-world experience to college, where she intends to pursue a collegiate degree in education.
“[Houston] brought a new way of playing basketball to me,” said Centennial senior Aza Corbett. “[Houston] hit her 1,000 points, and that's one of my goals for rebounds. [Houston and her sister] both playing like sisters and seeing their chemistry on the court spread to the rest of the starting five players, including me.”
Houston and Corbett recorded a double-double in a nail-biting game against the International Lions as a dynamic duo, scoring 20 points and grabbing 18 rebounds. Corbett is approaching the most rebounds in Centennial’s history.
“Playing on the high school level [at Centennial] has set a path for me,” Corbett said. “The main thing that's been holding me to the school has been sports, especially basketball. Our team has gotten so much recognition. A lot of people know Centennial Girls Basketball. I'd really like to go to college and continue to play basketball.”
Corbett and Houston have been dominant on the boards, each grabbing over 12 rebounds in eight straight games. Houston also added 29 points and five steals, with their strong defense playing a key role in Centennial’s success.
For Corbett, Houston, and the team, basketball is an opportunity to build bonds and inspire each other. Emphasizing effort, support, and fun, coaches embrace these relationships and look forward to showing up and pushing them forward.
"[At Centennial], the coaches build a culture of being all family and working hard," Houston said. "Coaches here believe in us and know we can do great things."
Centennial’s journey is a story of growth, unexpected duos, resilience, and commitment to doing one's best. The Stars remind us of the power of sports to bring people together and inspire one another to achieve greatness regardless of off-court challenges.
As the season continues, the Centennial girls’ basketball team focuses on showing up for each other, their school, and their community. With their blend of talent and heart, the Stars set an example for athletes across Columbus City Schools.
