The Tumwater girls basketball team got all the scoring it would need in the eight minutes immediately following tip-off Tuesday in Centralia, dominating the Tigers 65-17 in a 2A EvCo matchup.
The Thunderbirds led 23-5 after a quarter of play and 39-7 at halftime. Centralia managed two points in both the second and third quarters, and didn’t break into double digits until the fourth.
Kylie Waltermeyer stepped back into the leading role for Tumwater, coming close to a double-double with a team-high 14 points and nine steals; she also dished out three assists and had three rebounds. Sydney Sumrok was right behind her at 13 points, going 3 for 4 from beyond the arc.
Eleven Thunderbirds finished with points on offense, and six had at least three steals on defense. Olivia Ahrens dished out four assists.
Liliana Babka led Centralia with eight points, and Kassandra Ritchey had four.
Tumwater will take the momentum from its win to Chehalis on Thursday for a showdown with W.F. West. The Bearcats beat the T-Birds in Thurston County earlier this season, and another win would give them the 2A EvCo title. Centralia will stay at home Thursday, hosting Black Hills.
