Clackamas' Jenny Johnson watches the ball roll out of bounds after it was knocked out of her hands by Centralia's Shanae Sauls on an inbounds play during the first half of a non-conference NWAACC women's basketball game at the Centralia College Health and Wellness Center in Centralia on Wednesday night. Sauls persuasive efforts weren't enough to change the referee's call as Clackamas was given possession and another shot at an inbounds play from the baseline. Clackamas beat Centralia, 68-65.
Clackamas' Jordin Feldman pulls down a rebound away from Centralia's Jessica Gahan as Sade Elliott (3) looks on during the first half of a NWAACC non-conference women's basketball game at the Centralia College Health and Wellness Center in Centralia on Wednesday night.
Centralia's Kristen Schoenherr hangs in the air on a layup attempt as Clackamas' Jordin Feldman defends on the play during the second half of an NWAACC non-conference women's basketball game at the Centralia College Health and Wellness Center in Centralia on Wednesday.
Clackamas' Jenny Johnson gets trapped by Centralia's Shanae Sauls (4) and Italia Mengarelli (12) during the opening minutes of the second half of an NWAACC non-conference women's basketball game at the Centralia College Health and Wellness Center in Centralia on Wednesday.
Centralia's Italia Mengarelli, center, gets fouled by Clackamas' Sade Elliott, right, as she goes in for a layup while Tori Wilkinson defends on the play during the second half of an NWAACC non-conference women's basketball game at the Centralia College Health and Wellness Center in Centralia on Wednesday.
Centralia's Kyahri Adams, left, and Shanae Sauls, right, attempt to trap Clackamas' Jenny Johnson near half court during the second half of an NWAACC non-conference women's basketball game at the Centralia College Health and Wellness Center in Centralia on Wednesday night.
After pulling down an offensive rebound, Clackamas' Jordin Feldman attempts to shake off Centralia's Kristen Schoenherr, left, and Jessica, Gahan, right, during the opening minutes of the first half of an NWAACC non-conference women's basketball game at the Centralia College Health and Wellness Center on Wednesday night.
Centralia's Italia Mengarelli goes in for a layup as Clackamas' Jordin Feldman defends on the play during the first half of an NWAACC non-conference women's basketball game at the Centralia College Health and Wellness Center in Centralia on Wednesday.
Clackamas' Jenny Johnson looks to track down a loose ball after an inbounds pass was deflected while Centralia's Karina Gee, center, and Leah Davis, right, chase after the ball looking for a steal late in the second half of an NWAACC non-conference women's basketball game at the Centralia College Health and Wellness Center in Centralia on Wednesday.
Clackamas at Centralia College, Dec. 19, 2012.
Clackamas at Centralia College, Dec. 19, 2012.
Clackamas at Centralia College, Dec. 19, 2012.
Clackamas at Centralia College, Dec. 19, 2012.
Clackamas at Centralia College, Dec. 19, 2012.
Clackamas at Centralia College, Dec. 19, 2012.
Clackamas at Centralia College, Dec. 19, 2012.
Clackamas at Centralia College, Dec. 19, 2012.
Clackamas at Centralia College, Dec. 19, 2012.
The Lady Blazers kept sawing in Clackamas' lead in the second half, but could never quite get over the hump in a 68-65 NWAACC nonconference women's basketball loss Wednesday night in Centralia.
Italia Mengarelli scored 16 of her game-high 21 points in the second half for the host Blazers, who trailed by 10 with 4 1/2 minutes left in the game.
Centralia, though, went on a 12-3 run, finalized when Kristin Schoenherr grabbed a rebound, drove up court and found Shanae Sauls for a layup to cut the lead to 62-61. Clackamas answered, and Centralia's Kyahri Adams scored on a drive to the hoop with 31 seconds left to shave the lead back to 1. With less than a shot-clock reset's worth of time left, however, the Blazers were forced to foul, and Clackamas converted all four of its free throw attempts down the stretch to hold on and win.
Centralia was out rebounded 47-43 in the contest, but harassed Clackamas into 27 turnovers — which led to 20 Blazer points.
"We gave them too many second shots tonight, and ultimately the second shots and free throws beat us," Centralia coach Shane Schutz said, adding that the team hasn't played in a week and has been shorthanded in practice, making scrimmaging difficult. "And that comes, again, with having the ability to scrimmage and work on those things five on five. When you've got six kids to practice, you can only work on so many things."
Clackamas fired up a whopping 45 shots from behind the arc, converting 12. Ashleigh Anderson led the Cougars with 17 points and 13 rebounds.
Mengarelli converted 9 of 14 free throws, with six rebounds and four steals.
"She's the kid our kids feed off of," Schutz said. "She's a floor leader and the kids listen to her, and it's a huge asset."
The hosts fell behind 13-2 after the first 4 minutes, but picked up the slack and trailed by 3 at halftime, with every one of their 13 first-half baskets coming from within 10 feet of the hoop.
Centralia (5-2) will face Walla Walla in the first day of the Clackamas Holiday Tournament in Oregon City on Saturday, Dec. 28, and will open NWAACC West Division league play against Lower Columbia in Longview on Wednesday, Jan. 2.
At Centralia
COUGARS 68, TRAILBLAZERS 65
Clackamas 32 36 —68
Centralia 29 36 —65
Clackamas (68) — Elliot 11, Bilen 5, Effenberger 3, J. Feldman 11, M. Feldman 4, Anderson 17, Wilkinson 11, Johnson 6
FG: 22 of 66 —.333 FT: 12 of 14 —.857 Reb. 47 (Anderson 13)
Centralia (65) — Sauls 8, Mengarelli 21, Davis 8, Adams 11, Schoenherr 4, Sproul 9, Gahan 4
FG: 24 of 68 —.353 FT: 15 of 28 —.536 Reb. 43 (Gahan 10)
