Centralia's Lauren Frost is blocked by W.F. West's Julie Spencer during Evergreen 2A Conference basketball action Thursday on Ron Brown Court in the Hub City.
W.F. West's Tiana Parker puts up a shot in the key during the first quarter of Evergreen 2A Conference play against rival Centralia Thursday on Ron Brown Court in the Hub City.
Centralia's Annmarie Nugent hits the ground after going for the loose ball against W.F. West's Jessica McKay during Evergreen 2A Conference play Thursday on Ron Brown Court in the Hub City.
Centralia's Payton Cline and W.F. West's Jessica McKay during Evergreen 2A Conference basketball action Thursday on Ron Brown Court in the Hub City.
W.F. West's Julie Spencer puts up a shot in the key during the first quarter of Evergreen 2A Conference play against rival Centralia Thursday on Ron Brown Court in the Hub City.
W.F. West's Jessica McKay puts up a shot in the key during the first quarter of Evergreen 2A Conference play against rival Centralia Thursday on Ron Brown Court in the Hub City.
The calling card of the W.F. West girls basketball team the past few seasons has been defense — specifically a lengthy half-court zone that clogs the middle and offers opposing teams little more than rushed 3-pointers and lunging layups.
That defense was present Thursday night in Centralia, though W.F. West’s full-court press was so effective the zone only had a few chances, early on, to dig in and go to work.
The Bearcats jumped out to a 16-0 lead and had little trouble throughout in a 61-24 win over the rival Tigers, forcing 17 first-half turnovers and getting 20 points and 17 rebounds from forward Tiana Parker.
“We’ve worked on our press, but we haven’t used it until the last couple games,” Bearcat coach Henri Weeks said. “We knew Centralia was susceptible to pressure, so (the players) wanted to start right out in it.”
The results were immediate; Centralia was held scoreless for the first 7 minutes, 21 seconds of the game, and had even more issues getting the ball upcourt with junior point guard Madi Crews in foul trouble and out for all but the first few minutes of the first half.
“They’ve got (Julie) Spencer and Parker right there, which are big kids, so we’re just dribbling up the sideline and trying to throw over the top, and they’re active and good,” Centralia coach Doug Ashmore said. “They’re all moving together and working as one, and it was really effective.”
Parker, too, was effective, going 8 of 12 from the field and 4 of 4 at the foul line — and, like the rest of her teammates, enjoyed pressing in what turned out to be a pressure-free rivalry win.
“I feel like we don’t press much, but when we do, we pick it up early and we’re doing a really good job on it,” Parker said. “Julie’s on the trap, and she can tip the ball easy, and it makes them think the baseline’s open, so I get it.”
Spencer added 13 points and six rebounds for W.F. West, which wrapped up the first half on a 13-0 run and led 34-9 at the intermission.
The Bearcats had a rough shooting night from the outside — going 2 for 22 — but made up for it inside, outrebounding Centralia 42-23 and shooting 18 of 25 from inside the arc.
“I think we played really well as a team,” Parker said. “I love my guards. I love how they’re always looking to see the ball on fastbreaks, and I love to play with Julie. She’s always there and she makes shots.”
The Bearcats added an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter that pushed the lead into running clock territory at 58-17.
Crews and Annmarie Nugent each scored 6 points to lead Centralia, with Nugent adding seven rebounds, but the Tigers went just 7 of 43 (16 percent) from the field.
The win improves the No. 2-ranked Bearcats to 13-1 on the season and 2-0 in league play, with a home game against Black Hills on Tuesday.
Centralia (7-7, 0-2 league) will play at Tumwater on Tuesday.
