The Charles Henderson High School Trojans controlled their sub-regional game against Booker T. Washington Magnet School from the opening tip.

Literally.

DeVantez Jackson laid a ball off the glass for a lay up off the tip, and it was all Charles Henderson from there. The Trojans 33-8 at the end of the first quarter, and never let up en route to a dominating 81-41 win Friday night at Betty Wagoner Hall in Troy.

Despite the convincing longtime Charles Henderson head coach Carl Hollis said that the game was just another step on the road to Birmingham.

“Tonight is step number two,” said Hollis. “We are going to be seeded against a power house, because all the teams are good from here are on in.”

The game was never in doubt, as Charles Henderson rolled easily throughout the night against the smaller, less athletic Yellow Jackets.

Hollis was happy for the win, but still not satisfied with the way his team made “dumb mistakes” at times.

“I am definitely not satisfied,” said Hollis. “We had 14 unnecessary turnovers, which is way too many. Their defense caused some of them, but we caused more of them ourselves. We had the ball one-on-one at times and tried to pass, and you don’t do that. We have to keep trying to climb.”

With the win, Charles Henderson advances to the regional round of the playoffs, to be played next week in Dothan.

The regional appearance is the first for the Trojans since the 2004-2005 season. That year Charles Henderson made it all way to the state semi-finals before losing to Butler.

The games will take place in the Dothan Civic Center which Hollis said will take some getting used to .

“Everything is a little bit different when you play in those bigger arenas,” said Hollis. “The height of the ceiling, the roll-away goals, and noise level are all different from what we are used to. We will have our work cut out for us, but we will be ready to play next week when the time comes.”

Charles Henderson matches up with Escambia County in the first round of the regional tournament at the Dothan Civic Center.

Tip off is set for 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.