(Centralia girls won 45-30 over Hoxie - box score) (Centralia boys won 54-44 over Hanover - box score) 

Competing for State Championship is something of a regular occurrence for Centralia athletics and this year on the basketball court both the girls and boys punched their tickets to the State title game with wins in the Semifinals Friday. Centralia girls won a State title rematch from last year beating Hoxie 45-30 in the Semifinals, while Centralia boys also took out the defending 1A-Division I champs beating fellow TVL team Hanover 54-44. 

The day started slow in the girl’s matchup between Centralia and Hoxie as both teams were scorless for over half of the first quarter and after the first Hoxie led 7-6. The Indians pushed that lead to 12-8 but the Panthers pounced after that to win the second quarter 13-7 and lead 19-14 at intermission and Hoxie played without the services of Terran Hoyt for most of the first half who picked up two early fouls. The lead grew in the third for Centralia up to nine with 4:02 left in the frame and forced a Hoxie timeout the lead was nine at the end of the third with Centralia up 31-22. Panthers finished things off with a 14-8 fourth and secured the 45-30 win avenging their State title game loss to Hoxie last year and ending the Indians run of consecutive State titles at four. 

Centralia heads to the State title game for the ninth time in school history and carries a 24-1 record into the State title matchup. Cassidy Haulfer paced the Panthers with 13 points and 10 rebounds earning Community National Bank "Player to Bank On" honors on the radio. Drew Kramer chipped in 11 points, hitting three three-pointers and Chelsea Huerter scored nine points.

Centralia lady Panthers will look to win their fifth State title in school history and first since 2004 when they hit the court at the Civic Center in Dodge City at 4:00pm on Saturday versus Waverly who beat unbeaten St. Paul 45-35 in the other Semifinal. (Game will be broadcasted on 92.1 KMZA) 

The Centralia boys were looking to match the girls and earn a berth into the 1A-DI State title game and that they did by also defeating last year's State Champion.

Centralia worked out to an 8-1 advantage in the first quarter but Hanover ended the frame on a 7-0 run to tie the contest at 8-8 in the third meeting between the two Twin Valley League teams this season. Panthers pounced on the lead in the second outscoring Hanover 15-8 to lead 23-15 at halftime. The Wildcats was struggling from the floor in the first half and the shooting woes for the Wildcats continued in the second half as they finished just 8-34 from three-point range and 14-50 from the floor. While Hanover struggled shooting Centralia held them at bay and used a quartet of double figure scorers to gain the 54-44 win, while shooting 52.5% from the floor (21-40). 

The loss sends Hanover to 21-5 on the season and the Wildcats will vie for third place in 1A-DI against Victoria. Devin Jueneman led Hanover with 10 points, while Trey Loshe, Will Bruna and Michael Jueneman each chipped in nine points.

John Johnson led Centralia with 16 points, while Dustin Talley posted 14 points and Braden Deters and Alec Duryea contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively. The duo of Talley and Duryea picked up co-Community National Bank "Players to Bank On" honors on the radio. Centralia they improved to 18-7 with the win and will vie for their second State title in school history, winning the other in 2002. The Panthers will play Osborne who beat Victoria 43-33 in the other Semifinal. (Game will be broadcasted on 92.1 KMZA)