It didn't come easy on Friday night but Doniphan West and Centralia boys earned spots in the 1A-Division I Sub-State championship game at Frankfort on Saturday night. The night started with a thriller as Doniphan West won the battle of Mustangs, winning 52-51, while Centralia held off Frankfort for the 57-48 win.

Fast pace start to the night as both Doniphan West and Valley Heights wanted to gallop and run up and down the court and it showed early as Valley Heights led 15-14 after the first quarter, but an 11-10 second quarter by Doniphan West had the game tied at 25-25 at the half. In the second half Doniphan West posted an 11-7 third quarter to led 36-34 going into the fourth quarter. Valley Heights fought back with behind multiple plays down the final stretch of the game tied the contest at 51-51. Doniphan West with what looked to be the final possession got Jeffrey Watts open cutting to the basket, and while the shot fell short Watts was fouled. Watts stepped to the line with three seconds left and hit the first free throw to give Doniphan West the lead and missed the second and Valley Heights three-quarter court shot at the buzzer fell short, giving Doniphan West the 52-51 win.

The loss ends Valley Heights season at 14-9 on the year as Elijah Smith posted 14 points to lead Valley Heights, while Logan Woodyard chipped in 11 points.

With the win Doniphan West improved to 16-7 on the season and Watts led the Mustangs with 18 points, while Cooper Leach added 17 points. Watts with his 18 points and hitting the game winning free throw earned Watts Community National Bank "Player to Bank On" honors on KMZA radio.

In the night cap Centralia pounced early on Frankfort leading 6-0 and then worked out to a 13-2 advantage, but the Wildcats battled back posting a 9-2 run to end the first quarter to trail just 15-11 after the first quarter. The lead was pushed to seven at halftime as Centralia led 30-23, but Frankfort wouldn't go away quietly in the second half dwindling down the lead multiple times and drawing to with two-points at 41-39 in the fourth quarter. The Panthers answered with a run to push the lead back up to double figures and hit free throws down the stretch to earn the 57-48 win.

Frankfort ends the year with an 8-15 record with the loss and Jacob Studer led the Wildcats with 15 points, while Adam Kenworthy added 14 points.

Centralia with the win improves to 16-6 and moves into the Sub-State championship matchup as Darrian Turner led the Panthers with 16 points, earning himself Community National Bank "Player to Bank On" honors on KMZA radio. John Johnson and Joey Ferron added double figures for the Panthers scoring 12 and 10 points, respectively.

The right to play in the 1A-DI State tournament will be up for grabs Saturday night between the Centralia and Doniphan West boys and the Valley Heights and Centralia girls with the action starting at 6:00pm on 92.1 KMZA.