KELSO — It seemed fitting Saturday night’s boy 1A district title game finished in the fashion it did.
La Center and Seton Catholic had thrilling, down-to-the wire finishes in both their 1A Trico League meetings, so why would a district title game be different?
It wasn’t.
La Center is now winners of three consecutive district titles, downing their league-rival Cougars in overtime, 91-85, in a game that saw six lead changes just in the four-minute extra session.
Hunter Ecklund four free throws the final 14 seconds sealed La Center’s third straight district title. The previous two were won over another league-rival King’s Way Christian, which dispatched Forks on Saturday to earn the district’s final regional berth.
But this title, said Ecklund, is special in its own right.
“Senior year,” the point guard said. “It’s fun going out like this, but it’s definitely hard … We knew we could get a three-peat tonight and that’s what we were after. That’s all that was on our minds, and we pushed as hard as we could.”
Both teams head to 1A regionals next week and learn their seed and opponent Sunday.
The final four minutes of regulation and overtime Saturday had 11 lead changes after Seton’s largest lead came at 54-42 at the 3:27 mark of the third quarter. La Center used its defense and transition buckets to claw to lead 75-72. Luke Pitzer made 1 of 2 free throws for Seton that sent the game into overtime tied at 75.
In overtime, the teams had five ties and six lead changes. Cedric Hubler’s bucket inside gave the Wildcats their sixth lead of the overtime at 87-85 and Ecklund went 4 of 4 at the line in the closing seconds.
WIth his game-high 28 points, Ecklund, a senior, is now the program’s career scoring leader. His 1,790 career points surpasses Dustin VanWeerdhuizen’s career mark of 1,785.
That milestone is special for Ecklund, especially doing it in a thrilling fashion as helping his team win another district title.
“I still can’t’ believe it,” Ecklund said. Seeing videos of (Dustin and Derek VanWeerdhuizen, the school’s 1-2 scoring leaders before Saturday) play and being able to beat them, it’s just amazing.”
Along with Ecklund, Hunter Ball added 20 for the Wildcats, and Isaiah Romero and Tobey Deemar had 12 and 10 points, respectively. Gabe Anderson was one of five Seton players to score in double figures with 18. Pitzer added 17 and Gabe Anderson and Xavian Rushing added 12. Zach Cowger had 10.
LA CENTER 91, SETON CATHOLIC 85 (OT)
SETON CATHOLIC — Kellen Ball 4, Jacob George 3, Luke Pitzer 17, Nolan Hannam 9, Gabe Anderson 18, Xavian Rushing 12, Andy Olson 12, Zach Cowger 10. Totals 19 96) 21-27 85.
LA CENTER — Hunter Ball 20, Tobey Deemar 10, Parker Ball 0, Jeremy Humphrey 2, Isaiah Romero 12, Riley Fender 5, Cedric Hubler 14, Hunter Ecklund 28. Totals 30 (4) 27-40 91.
Seton 16 25 21 15 10 – 85
La Center 23 13 17 22 16 – 91
