The Centralia College women’s basketball team held an early lead against Lower Columbia College on Wednesday, but a strong second quarter gave the Red Devils a lead they wouldn’t relinquish, as they topped the Trailblazers 83-72.
The Trailblazers (9-10, 3-1 NWAC) led by seven after the opening frame and were tied with LCC with two minutes remaining in the first half, but Lower Columbia ended the half on a 12-2 run to take a 10-point lead into the locker room.
LCC opened up an 18-point lead in the third, but Centralia continued to claw back, getting within six with two and a half minutes to play in the fourth.
Ultimately, the Red Devils were able to put the game away, handing the Trailblazers their first NWAC loss).
Madison Gore led CC with 29 points, shooting 9 for 18 from the field, including three 3-pointers. Maya Barnett added 17 on 6 for 11 shooting and Foai Pula tallied 16 while hitting seven of her 11 shots from the floor.
Kate Carpenter had her way inside the paint, grabbing 12 rebounds and blocking six shots.
The matchup was also a homecoming for a few LCC area alums. Napavine alum Morgan Hamilton scored 13 points, Adna alum Karlee VonMoos just missed a double-double with 10 rebounds and nine points, and Mossyrock alum Payton Torrey scored six points, hauled in nine rebounds, and dished out four assists off the bench.
The Trailblazers will head north on Saturday, where they’ll take on Green River.
Trailblazers fade in second half in loss to Red Devils
Similar to the women’s game that happened just before, the Centralia College men were in the game late, but LCC held on for a 74-62 win.
After a tight first 30 minutes of play, the Trailblazers trailed by just one entering the final 10-plus minutes, but the Red Devils went on a 14-4 run to extend their lead to double-digits.
CC never got closer than nine, and the Trailblazers (6-13, 2-3 NWAC) have now lost three in a row.
Ian Coates-White led the way with 16 points and seven rebounds off the bench, while Nahshon Henderson Crew scored 11, dished out four assists, and grabbed three rebounds.
Ahren Bee-Richards and Joshua Forster scored eight and grabbed six rebounds each.
For LCC, W.F. West alum Carter McCoy recorded a double-double, tallying 18 points and hauling in 10 rebounds while also blocking four shots.
The men are also at Green River on Saturday, as they’ll follow the women’s game.
