LONGVIEW — Marcus Gilson notched a double-double and LaBrandon Price led all scorers here at Myklebust Gymnasium on Saturday as Centralia bested Lower Columbia 66-49 in a key matchup of NWAC West Conference men's basketball foes.
Price scored a game-high 18 points to lead Centralia while Gilson added 15 points and a game-high 16 rebounds.
The Trailblazers put up matching scores of 33 in the first and second half and held the Red Devils to just 19 points before intermission to power their win. The Trailblazers held Centralia to just 32 percent shooting from the field thanks to that staunch defensive effort in the first half. The teams tied in rebounds with 43 each.
Dionte Dixon and Peyton Stanley added six points a piece for Centralia.
Former Adna Pirate, Cody Young, scored three points for Lower Columbia.
Centralia (12-5, 2-0 conference) will host South Puget Sound on Wednesday.
Centralia Snags a Win at Lower Columbia
LONGVIEW — The Trailblazers used a 26-point offensive outburst in the second quarter to fuel a 60-54 victory over Lower Columbia here at Myklebust Gymnasium on Saturday in women’s NWAC West Conference basketball play.
The Red Devils held a 14-11 advantage after one quarter but Centralia ran out to a 37-30 lead at the half thanks to that aforementioned offensive workshop. The Blazers added a couple of points to their lead in the third quarter and hung on in the fourth as the Red Devils attempted an ill fated comeback.
Centralia hit twenty of their 56 shots for a 36 percent clip and connected on 12 of 17 free throws. Meanwhile, Lower Columbia hit just 32 percent of their shots and knocked down a baker's dozen from the charity stripe.
Piper Cai led Centralia with 19 points while Caitlin Yenne scored 13 points and Lindsey Nurmi added 11. Cai, Yenne and Quinlan Christian all grabbed a team-high five rebounds.
Former Adna standout Kenya Lorton scored 19 points for Lower Columbia while Shasta Lofgren, formerly of W.F. West, added three points for the Red Devils.
Centralia (8-8, 2-0 conference) will host South Puget Sound on Wednesday.
