Lost on the road, 74-57 to Battle’s Lady Spartans
It started out uncomfortably for the hometown crowd.
Battle scored first, courtesy of Battle’s Eliiyah McCarthy, who scored a three-pointer.
Centralia’s Jozelynn Bostick replied with her own three, backed up by a Claire Bennett two-pointer to give Centralia the lead.
Early, the game went back and forth, Battle and Centralia trading the lead, tied at three, tied at five, tied at 11.
Then Battle pulled away.
By the first quarter’s end it was 20-14 Battle.
They kept the lead, ahead 43-25 at halftime and 54-30 going into the
third.
Battle finished the now 15-7 Centralia Lady Panthers 74-57.
Bostick led Centralia with a game-high 20 points. Bennet scored 12 and Baylee Beard, eight.
McCarthy led Battle with 17.
Centralia hosts its first game of districts, 6 p.m., Monday, March 1 against Bowling Green.
For more, see next week’s edition of the Centralia Fireside Guard.