EVERETT — Marqus Gilson recorded a double-double and four Blazers scored in double figures for a 73-71 win over Edmonds in the opening game of the NWAC Men’s Basketball Tournament here on Thursday.
Centralia moves into the Elite 8 and will take on North Idaho at 1 p.m. in Everett on Friday for a spot in the final four next weekend.
Gilson scored 17 points to go with 15 rebounds and seven blocks. Tyler Ashmore tallied 16 points and Dinote’ Dixon and Jaxon Clarke each added 10 points. LaBrandon Price grabbed 10 boards for the Blazers.
Drew Magaoay of Edmonds led all scorers with 23 points. Sean Kirk chipped in 13 points and Cameron Burns contributed 10 points and nine rebounds.
The team’s had similar field goal percentage, but the Blazers shot 42 percent from behind the arc compared to Edmonds’ 24 percent shooting from downtown.
The first half was back and forth with the game tied at 30 at intermission. The Blazers started to pull away midway through the second half, building the lead to 11 points with less than 10 minutes left in the game. Edmonds battled back and cut the lead to four late in the game, but Tyler Ashmore made a layup late and a Gilson free throw was the icing on top of the victory cake for Centralia.
North Idaho defeated Clackamas 105-68 to earn their spot in the Elite 8 and are 28-2 overall this season.
