OTTUMWA — Matt Kruzich’s return gave way to Chris Gravett’s winning debut.

In a hookup of area boys hoops teams, Kruzich and his Centerville Big Reds walked through the doors of Evans Middle School to take on Gravett’s Ottumwa Bulldogs.

The result was a season-opening 47-37 victory for Ottumwa. The win gave Gravett — who took over this season for Mike Holmes — his first varsity head coaching victory.

Ottumwa raced out to a 23-4 lead early but Kruzich’s Big Reds cut that lead to as little as eight in the first half, courtesy of a swarming triangle-in-two defense and Bulldog foul problems.

“Sometimes you just have to fight and hold on,” said Gravett, a 1996 Ottumwa High School grad.

Kruzich made a return as the front man of the Big Reds after a three-year hiatus. He was an assistant at CHS last season and has guided Centerville to several state tournaments in his impressive tenure in Appanoose County.

“It feels good. I love this team,” said Kruzich. “I’m just thrilled to be back. I just have a hard time not being in control. When you’re a head coach for 18 years and then you give it up, it’s hard to be an assistant.”

Ottumwa broke out of the gates fast and hard and led 17-4 after one quarter of play. Keenan Wyngarden’s back-to-back 3-pointers gave Ottumwa that 23-4 lead with six minutes left in the first half. Ottumwa buried five 3-pointers in the first 10 minutes of the game, two by junior point guard Michael Wetrich, who finished with 11 points.

“The start was a little overwhelming,” said Kruzich.

Three Ottumwa players were saddled with three personal fouls in the first half, them being Wetrich, Sam Heinrichs and Jordan Jones — all starters.

Centerville’s 13-2 second-quarter run cut Ottumwa’s leading margin to eight — 25-17 with 1:16 left in the first half.

“We’ve only had 11 practices before our first game, so we’ve never seen it,” said Gravett, about Kruzich’s decision to go to the triangle defense. “Our guys were having a hard time trying to figure out what they should do.”

Ottumwa was able to pound it down low in the second half to Ben Ryder — Ottumwa’s 6-7 junior center. Ryder led the Bulldogs in scoring with 12 and scored eight second-half points.

Wetrich’s 3-pointer with seven ticks left on the third quarter buzzer lifted Ottumwa’s lead to 39-24.

Ottumwa senior forward Clint Utter was also active on the night with eight points and eight rebounds.