La Center’s second-half rally fell short in a battle of teams ranked in the Associated Press 1A state poll.
The No. 9 Chinooks led 55-35 in the third quarter. No. 6-ranked La Center clawed back by scoring 31 points in the fourth quarter.
“We called time out and got after them a little bit,” La Center coach Jon Schroeder said. “We challenged them. That’s probably a prettier way of saying it.”
Brody Seter led the Wildcats with 19 points. Schroeder singled out the “blue collar” defensive effort of Mason Parmentier, who had 10 rebounds.
Kalama sits atop the Trico League at 11-1. At 10-3, La Center fell one game behind Woodland, which the Wildcats will face on Friday.
KALAMA 83, LA CENTER 77
LA CENTER — Connor Wonderly 11, Chase Davison 7, Jonathan Griffee 0, Wyatt Aguirre 11, Matt Braaten 7, Brody Seter 19, Dalton Morgan 6, Will Rice 15, Mason Parmentier 1. Totals 12 (10) 20-22 77.
KALAMA — Harley Gates 11, Jared Shagool 13, Elijah Bannister 20, Isaac Truesdell 8, Seth Freeman 9, Spencer Stone 2, Hunter Esary 20. Totals 24 (6) 17-22 83.
La Center 13 20 13 31–77
Kalama 14 27 22 20–83
JV — Kalama 60-50
