ELKHART — Tray Qualls buried two 3-pointers in the final 90 seconds as Central won its first Northern Indiana Conference game of the season 55-53 over South Bend Washington on Friday night.

The Blue Blazers celebrated Senior Night by rolling to a 35-17 halftime lead, but the Panthers stormed back with a 36-point second half, eventually taking the lead in the fourth quarter.

Terell Street knocked down 20 points for Central, which improved to 6-11.

Tra’veon Johnson topped Washington with 27 points.

CENTRAL 55, sb washington 53

Washington — Antwon Ivory 0, Rashaun Lane 0, Chris Sleepers 10, Denottus Crumbley 0, Tra’veon Johnson 27, Jacob Watts-Jenkins 1, Tyjhay McCain 0, Montel Green 15, Dionte Hicks 0. Totals: 14 18-20 53.

Central — Genoris Crawford 2, Terell Street 20, JJ Stahl 4, Jaron Walters 4, Tre Taylor 2, Blake Brouwer 13, Tray Qualls 6, Brian Harter 2, Aaron Flax 2. Totals: 18 14-21 55.

Scoring By Quarters

Washington 13 4 18 18 — 53

Central 16 19 11 9 — 55

3-point goals: Washington (7) — Green 5, Sleepers 2; Central (5) — Qualls 2, Brouwer, Street.

Total fouls: Washington 19, Central 16. Fouled out — Sleepers.

Records: Central 5-11 (1-5 NIC), SB Washington 5-8 (2-4 NIC).

Next: Hammond Clark at Washington today, Feb. 2; Central at SB Clay Thursday.

JV: SB Washington 46, Central 35. Top scorers: Washington — Denottus Crumbley, Anthony Brazier 15; Central — Trayton Harris 9.