The Tumwater boys basketball team never really found the knockout blow Friday at home, but did enough each quarter to pull away from Centralia 58-46.
The T-Birds led by three points after a quarter and eight at halftime, and the Tigers played them nearly even in the second half.
Sahara Anthony III led all scorers with 18 points, but was the only Thunderbird to finish in double figures. Behind him, Henry Wilson had eight points and Jacob Dillon, Clay Morgan and Nolan Campbell all scored seven.
Centralia was led by David Daarud’s 16 points and six rebounds, while Landen Jankins added 13 points and seven boards.
Tumwater will head south to Longview to face Mark Morris in a rematch of last year’s state quarterfinal on Tuesday. Centralia will be off until Dec. 28, when it goes north face Overlake at Meridian High School.
