ROSEBURG, ORE. — Centralia lost their opener at the NWAC Crossover her on Friday, but was able to rebound over the weekend with wins over Skagit Valley and Umpqua in non-regional men’s college basketball.
On Saturday, Centralia defeated Skagit Valley 80-65. Marqus Gilson recorded a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Collin Prangley came off the bench and added 10 points.
The Blazers shot 50 percent from the field and outrebounded the Cardinals 42-27.
Centralia scored 47 points in the first half and held on in the second half for the win.
On Sunday, Centralia made it two wins in a row with a 92-91 win over Umpqua. Gilson once again recorded a double-double with 36 points and 12 rebounds, shooting 16 of 28 from the field.
Dionte Dixon and Liam Murphy each added 13 points for the Blazers.
Umpqua’s Kolten Mortensen scored 19 points off the bench.
Centralia shot 49 percent from the field while Umpqua shot 44 percent.
Centralia led 38-30 at halftime, but Umpqua stormed back into the game by scoring 61 points in the second half. Murphy made a layup with 23 seconds left and Dixon made a free throw with 17 seconds left to hang on for the win.
Centralia (6-3) travels to Bremerton on Wednesday to face Olympic in a non-regional game.
Blazers Top Trojans, Fall to Titans at Columbia Basin Crossover
PASCO — Centralia lost to Lane on Saturday, but was able to bounce back and earn a win on Sunday against Everett in two NWAC non-regional women’s basketball games here over the weekend.
Lane defeated Centralia 83-55 on Saturday. Piper Cai led the Blazers with 15 points and Caitlin Yenne added 14 points and eight rebounds.
The Titans had five players score in double figures, led by Megan Still with 18 points and Megan Fossen added 14 points.
Lane shot 44 percent from the field compared to Centralia’s 33 percent shooting. The Titans also won the rebounding battle, 52-34.
Lane dominated the first quarter and led 25-8 and also won the third quarter 23-6 to cruise to the win.
Centralia was able to recover from the loss on Saturday to earn an 84-70 win over Everett on Sunday. Yenne recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Piper Cai led the Blazers with 23 points. Jamie Connally and Lindsey Nurmi each chipped in 15 points and Rachel Wilkerson came off the bench and scored 11 points and nine rebounds.
Lane’s Hannah Hezekiah led all scorers with 32 points and Kelsey Mellick tallied 19 points.
The Blazers improved their shooting on Sunday, shooting 48 percent from the field and outrebounding Lane 43-35.
Centralia scored 24 points in the first two quarters to lead 48-32. Everett closed the gap to 62-51, but the Blazers scored 22 in the final frame to hold off Lane.
Centralia (5-6) faces North Idaho on Thursday, Dec. 27, in Longview at the Lower Columbia Holiday Classic.
