BOYS BASKETBALL
Centralia shot 54 percent from the floor to down Tumwater, 84-73, in 2A Evergreen Conference action. Patrick Neely paced the Tigers with 23 points, and Trevor Baumann had 22. Tumwater’s loss sets up Friday’s showdown with Black Hills, with the fifth and final playoff spot into next week’s 2A District IV tournament on the line. A win by Tumwater secures a playoff berth, while a win by Black Hills pulls the teams into a tie in the win column with one game remaining for Tumwater (next Tuesday vs. River Ridge). David Cooper led the T-Birds with 21 points.
W.F. West assured itself at least a share of the EvCo title after its 64-42 win over Black Hills. The Wolves can pull into a tie for the fifth and final playoff berth with a win over Tumwater at home Friday.
Led by Brad Wallace’s 35 points, River Ridge moved into second place, a half-game up on Capital, with its 73-54 win at Aberdeen.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Rochester gave everything it had to Elma, which already had secured the 1A Southwest Washington Evergreen Division title, but the Eagles hit five consecutive free throws to pull out a 58-56 win over the Warriors. Joni Lancaster had 18 points and Keeli Demers had 15 for the Warriors.
W.F. West wrapped up its second straight 2A Evergreen Conference title with two regular-season games remaining after its 57-31 victory over Black Hills behind a game-high 15 points from sophomore Julie Spencer and 10 points from Jamika Parker. Taylor Sauls and Hope Mortensen had eight points apiece for the Wolves, who have already locked up a playoff berth.
An 18-5 third-quarter run helped Tumwater to its second league victory, 63-47 over Centralia. Ashley Christoffer’s 16 points and Lacye Groening’s 13 led the T-Birds.
mwochnick@ theolympian.com
