It may be still early in the 2025-26 season, but Austin Danielson can sense that the tides are changing within the Centralia High School girls basketball program.
The Tigers are 9-2 through 11 games for the first time in Danielson’s four-year tenure and are close to doubling their win total from last season already. Centralia’s latest victory came in the title game of the Centralia Tiger Classic fundraiser tournament 57-12 against North Mason Tuesday night.
Behind a defensive effort that saw Centralia force 37 turnovers, the Tigers clinched the first-place trophy for the first time in the tournament’s three-year history. Centralia’s home tournament also featured Rochester and Todd Beamer.
“It’s an indicator of positive growth in our program that we can come out and execute. Not long ago, we weren’t playing full games,” Danielson said of winning the Centralia Tiger Classic. “The fact that we can do that now and we have a lot of positivity and energy, it’s a really good thing. We’re working hard to change the culture.”
The dominant defensive night came on the heels of Centralia giving up just 17 points in the tournament semifinals against Todd Beamer Monday night. It’s the first time Centralia has allowed fewer than 20 points in back-to-back games in Danielson’s tenure.
Centralia’s defense allowed a layup 99 seconds into the contest against North Mason and did not give up another point until 15 seconds into the third quarter. In that span of 14 minutes and 26 seconds, the Tigers forced 22 turnovers and scored 25 points to take a 27-2 halftime lead.
North Mason was able to muster up nine points in the third quarter to reach double digits, but the Tigers only allowed one field goal between the first, second and fourth quarters. Centralia’s guards swarmed the Bulldogs before they could even get past their own 3-point line numerous times, swiping 28 steals.
“We have some really good defensive players. We loved the energy off the bench from Emma Ferch. She was our merit leader tonight,” Danielson said. “It was consistent defensive pressure. It’s fun basketball when you can put on defensive pressure, read passes and get into your transition offense.”
Ayana Saucedo enjoyed a strong day with a game-high 12 points, while Makenzie Erickson added eight points. Maddie Ahern scored seven before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with a head injury.
Brooklyn Sprague, who started the tourney by winning the 3-point contest on Monday, tallied six points. The Tigers got a lift in scoring from their bench with 20 points, led by six points apiece from Estella Bussanich and Kendyl Guenther.
A 9-2 start to the season is a rare occurrence for Centralia; in fact, it hasn’t happened in at least 20 years. Danielson gave credit to the pipeline of talent that’s been brewing in the Hub City for the past few years.
“There’s been a lot of growth. In the last couple of years, a lot of people have worked really hard at putting together a youth program,” she said. “In particular, our varsity assistant Carissa Kaut has put in crazy hours to try to get our youth opportunities to play, to build their skills, and to build their basketball IQ. The players that we’re getting now really know what they’re doing.
“The future is bright in terms of Centralia basketball players with experience,” Danielson continued.
Next up for Centralia is the EvCo slate, beginning with a road test at Aberdeen (3-3) on Tuesday, Jan. 6 and a home game against Tumwater (5-4) on Thursday, Jan. 8.
