CC drops NWAC doubleheader to Green River

The Trailblazers were seconds away from forcing overtime in the women’s game and the men never could overcome multiple double digit deficits on Wednesday night, losing both games of their NWAC doubleheader to Green River at home.

In the women’s game, a game-winning bucket by the Gators’ Jirah Villanueva secured an 86-84 win. Centralia (6-13, 1-3 NWAC), which led by one entering the fourth, tied the game four times in the fourth and retook the lead twice. It used a 31-point explosion in the second stanza to turn a six-point deficit into a five-point halftime cushion.

Forward Mya Penswick discord 14 of her 20 points in the second and grabbed five rebounds. The reserve forward was the only player to score off the bench for the Blazers, which has lost back-to-back games for the fifth time this season.

Khloe Glover led CC with a team-high 21 points while Abi Lundbald registered a 16-point, 17-rebound double-double. Jazlyn Corpuz and Kieryn Mann both finished in double figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

On the men’s side, Green River led by as many as 17 and took care of business in the second half to pounce on CC with an 88-79 victory. Despite scoring 50 points in the second half, the Trailblazers (12-6, 2-2 NWAC) never got closer than eight points.

The big discrepancy was from beyond the arc, where Green River knocked down 11 shots to CC’s six. The latter outrebounded the former by 12, but never could dig out of an early first half deficit.

The Blazers have alternated wins over the month of January. Tumwater grad Luke Brewer led the way with 22 points while Maximus Holliman added 18 and Julian Ibarra chipped in 11. Both CC squads will hit the road on Saturday and take on SPSCC in an afternoon doubleheader.