Centralia shot 51 percent from the field to hold off South Puget Sound down the stretch and earn a 69-60 win in an NWAC West Region women’s basketball game at Michael Smith Gymnasium in Centralia on Wednesday.
Piper Cai led the Blazers with 24 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Isabella Elwood and Lindsey Nurmi each added 13 points for the Blazers.
Trinity Betoney led the Clippers with 16 points. Mossyrock alum Lainee Grose scored 15 points and Winlock alum Rianna Whitehead scored 12 points for South Puget Sound.
South Puget Sound shot 43 percent from the field and lost the rebounding battle, 27-20.
The Clippers led 19-17 after one quarter, but the Blazers responded in the second quarter, holding South Puget Sound to eight points to gain a 31-27 lead at halftime.
Centralia outscored South Puget Sound 38-33 in the second half to hold on for the victory.
Centralia (9-8, 3-0) hosts Tacoma on Saturday at 5 p.m. in a West Region contest.
Men’s Basketball
Blazers Falls Short Against Clippers
South Puget Sound had five players score in double figures to lead the Clippers to a 90-74 win over Centralia in a NWAC West Region game at Michael Smith Gymnasium in Centralia on Wednesday.
Marqus Gilson led the Blazers with 16 points. Liam Murphy added 13 points and LaBrandon Price and Collin Prangley each scored 10 points for the Blazers. Price added six rebounds and Dionte’ Dixon had four assists.
Branden Bunn scored 18 points to lead South Puget Sound. Cacoa Chatman scored 17 points and Tyke Thompson recorded 13 points.
Centralia alum Ben Janssan tallied 11 points and Hunter Sipe added 10 points for the Clippers.
South Puget Sound shot 49 percent from the field while Centralia shot 44 percent from the field. The Clippers won the rebounding battle 38-23.
South Puget Sound led by 10 points at halftime and scored 50 points in the second half to claim the victory.
Centralia (12-6, 2-1) hosts Tacoma on Saturday at 7 p.m. in a West Region game.
