Girls Hoops: Black Hills holds off Centralia

1/26/2023

Black Hills 52, Centralia 44

(Centralia, WA) The Centralia Tigers and Black Hills Wolves have had a rough season and both were eager to post a win. Both teams have suffered through several injuries and short rosters but on Thursday night you wouldn’t know either team had been through such a tough season. The Tigers came in with just 1 win on the year and Black Hills with just 5.

Black Hills came into the game averaging just 38 points a game and Centralia 34. Both teams blew past those marks in a very competitive and physical game. Neither side wanted to give in and it was a battle to the end.

After an even start with the score tied at 9-9 about halfway through the 1st quarter the Wolves then went on a 9-0 run to finish the quarter with an 18-9 lead. That burst would ultimately be the difference in this game as Centralia actually outscored Black Hills over the final 3 quarters 35-34. But the Wolves never led by less than 6 after getting that early lead and every time the Tigers made a bid they would immediately answer.

Kiley McMahon was red hot in the 1st half for Black Hills knocking down 12 of her game high 20. She also hit from deep twice in the 1st half and one long ball in the 2nd half just as time was expiring in the 3rd quarter and finished 3-4 from the line. This was more than enough to earn our Thorbeckes MVP of the game award.

McMahon got plenty of help with Carmen Williams who dominated in the paint scoring 11 and pulling down several rebounds. Ava Klovas also was in double figures with 10 and battled down low for the ball. Claire Johnson added 5, Kayla Patti had 4 and Ellie Johnson for 2.

Centralia’s Gracie Schofield kept the Tigers in the game and led in scoring with 12 points all from 3-point range. Emily Wilkerson got cranked up in the 2nd half scoring 7 of her 10 points keeping the Tigers within striking distance while Brooklyn Sprague hit for 8 points. The scoring was well spread out with 6 Tigers in the book as Maggie Eiland hit 2 3-balls for 6 and Payton Baumel dropped in a half dozen as well and Kassandra Richey scored 2. Wilkerson and Baumel also were warriors in the key with multiple rebounds and many tie ups for jump balls.

Black Hills is now 6-11 overall and 3-7 in league play and will face Tumwater next Tuesday. Centralia is now 1-16 on the season and hosts WF West next Wednesday.

If you’d like to watch the replay of the game it is available on the subsciption NFHS Network in the on-demand section by clicking here.