A strong third quarter helped the visiting Wildcats strengthen their second-place position in the Trico League standings.
La Center outscored Castle Rock 23-9 in the third quarter to comfortable lead.
“We thought it would be a battle and we wanted to come out with intensity after halftime,” La Center’s Will Rice said. “We just pushed the ball, rotated the ball well and got good shots and knocked them down.”
La Center coach Jon Schroeder said his team’s third-quarter defense fueled the big offensive quarter.
“Credit the kids. They got this done,” Schroeder said.
The win improved the Wildcats (7-5) to 5-1 in Trico League play. Castle Rock (9-6) fell to 4-3 in league games.
Wyatt Aguirre scored 31 points and had a team-high seven assists for La Center. Rice scored 24 points for the Wildcats. Jake Wise grabbed 12 rebounds and Max Hiller nine to lead a strong effort on the boards.
Castle Rock got 26 points from Brock Johnson and 23 points from Ty Johnson, but could not keep pace with the visitors.
LA CENTER 82, CASTLE ROCK 66
LA CENTER — Dalton Morgan 2, Chase Davidson 4, Will Rice 24, Wyatt Aguirre 31, Sawyer Bierscheid 8, Brody Seter 2, Sean Nolan 2, Jake Morris 0, Max Hiller 7, Matt Bahr 0, Jack Hiller 0, Jake Wise 2. Totals 29 (14) 10-12 82.
CASTLE ROCK — Colton Titus 0, Ty Johnson 23, Taite Kleine 2, Brock Johnson 26, Mason Klingberg 12, Dakota Golden 3, Kyle Koopman 0, Nick Proudfit 0. Totals 24 (11) 7-10 66.
La Center 20 16 23 23—82
Castle Rock 17 11 9 29—66
JV — La Center 60-45.
