In an electrifying Friday night matchup, the Saugus Centurions edged out the Canyon Cowboys, securing a pivotal win to tie for first place in the Foothill League standings.

The Centurions, now 5-2 in league play, were led by 6’6” center Max Guardado, who delivered a stellar performance with 21 points and five rebounds. Guardado set the tone early, scoring six points in the first quarter.

“It was very important to start quick. We talked about a fast start because last time at [Canyon], we started slow and sluggish,” said Saugus Head Coach Alfredo Manzano. “Credit to them—they brought their best tonight, and they came out even stronger than before.”

Manzano credited Guardado’s impact on both ends of the court, particularly his interior defense and rebounding. Meanwhile, Braydon Harmon also shone with 21 points and six rebounds, earning recognition as the team’s defensive anchor.

“Braydon has become our defensive stopper, and he did a really good job on Eric in the first half,” said Manzano, referencing Canyon’s star player, Eric Kubel.

Kubel, who has been a standout all season, tallied 20 points in the game. Manzano praised Kubel’s skill, saying, “Eric’s a really good player—he’s making tough shots with hands in his face.”

When Harmon picked up his fourth foul, Manzano shifted Andrew Phan onto Kubel to avoid losing Harmon to fouls. “Andrew did a really good job on [Kubel],” Manzano added.

Saugus trailed 25-23 at halftime, but the third quarter saw a surge from Canyon, led by key contributors such as Kubel, Isaac Yuhico, Chigozie Osuji, and Sean Hernandez. Midway through the quarter, Canyon extended their lead to 41-35. 

However, the Centurions fought back, closing the gap to within three points by the end of the quarter.

Tied at 50 with seven minutes left, Saugus found another gear, outscoring Canyon 15-7 in the final stretch to secure a 65-57 victory.

“We faced a lot of adversity today—we were down a lot and had foul trouble,” said Manzano. “Credit to Canyon; we knew this was going to be an absolute dog fight.”

The Centurions’ resilience stems from their motto, “Make it count,” a reminder that their offseason hill sprints, track runs, and workouts have built them for moments like these.

With six games remaining, Saugus is riding a two-game win streak, but Manzano remains focused on the present. “I hate to say it, but it’s the old cliche—we have to take it one game at a time,” he said. “We tell our guys to stay in the moment.”

The Centurions will have little time to rest, as they face Rancho Cucamonga in a 9 a.m. game on Saturday. Rancho Cucamonga is ranked 29th in California. Afterward, Saugus will prepare for a critical matchup against Valencia on Tuesday.

Canyon, meanwhile, will have the weekend to regroup before facing West Ranch on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

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