The Wildcats were on the short end of a back-and-forth game in the 1A district playoffs.
Trailing 41-35 after three quarters, La Center used a 10-2 run to take a 45-43 lead with 5:04 to play.
But Elma would go on a 9-2 run over the next four minutes to pull away at Centralia High School.
“The kids gave a good effort,” La Center coach Jon Schroeder said. “It’s a tough loss for us. The kids are disappointed because we thought we could get one tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll have to regroup.”
La Center will play a loser-out game Tuesday against Trico League champion Kalama, which lost to Toledo on Friday. The time and location have yet to be settled.
Dalton Morgan had 15 points and Brody Seter added 13 for La Center.
ELMA 57, LA CENTER 52
LA CENTER — Connor Wonderly 4, Chase Davison 3, Jonathan Griffee 0, Wyatt Aguirre 10, Matt Braaten 7, Brody Seter 13, Dalton Morgan 15, Sawyer Bierscheitd 0, Jake Wise 0, Mason Parmentier 0, Max Hiller 0, Sean Nolan 0. Totals 15 (7) 15-21 52.
ELMA — Collins 23, Nauman 8, Stark 7, Gilman 4, Lemmer 9, Neary 6. Totals 19 (7) 12-19 57.
La Center 10 14 11 17–52
Elma 14 9 18 16–57
