(Centralia girls won 54-36 over Waverly - box score) (Centralia boys won 38-27 over Osborne - box score)

Signs in the stands and student sections said "Redo '02" referencing 2002 when the Centralia Panther girls and boys basketball teams each won State titles and this year both teams were on the prowl for State Champions and accomplished the same outcome of 2002. The lady Panthers took down Waverly 54-36 to win the State title, while the boys beat Osborne 38-27 to lay claim to the win. 

It started with the lady Panthers looking to better than State runner-up finish from the previous year and that they did getting off to a solid start against Waverly but only leading 15-12 after the first quarter. After a 16-9 second quarter the lead was 10 going into halftime with Centralia up 31-21. In the first half and the second half both teams dealt with foul trouble causing both teams to go to their bench and the Centralia reserves came up with strong minutes helping the team weather the storm of foul trouble, while Waverly struggled with their foul issues. The 10-points halftime lead continued to grow over the course of the second half as Centralia outscored the Bulldogs 23-15 in the second half going on to grab the 54-36 win. 

The game was all around solid for Centralia as the Panthers shot 56.7% from the floor (17-30), while holding Waverly to just 20% shooting and 3-19 from three-point range. Panthers also won the rebounding margin 35-21, while hitting 15-24 free throws. Katie Glatczak paced the Panthers as she tied a season high with 22 points, while Cassidy Haufler had eight points and both Madison Lueger and Mayda Stallbaumer each had six points. 

Panthers finish out the season riding a 23-game winning streak and posting a 25-1 record claiming their fifth State title in school history for the girl’s basketball program. Centralia opened State beating South Barber 55-38, then avenged the State title loss from last year by beating Hoxie 45-30 in the Semifinals and finishing the State tournament with the win over Waverly. 

Back at the State tournament for the first time since 2013 the Centralia boys were looking for their second title in school history and that they accomplished with a Championship win over Osborne 38-27. 

Centralia pounced early on Osborne leading 13-6 after the first quarter and after Braden Deters hit a bank shot at the buzzer to end the first. The Panthers added to that lead with a 15-5 second quarter leading at one-point 20-8 in the second and carried a 28-11 lead into intermission. The second half both offense's struggles and Osborne had opportunities to cut into the Panther lead but Centralia held them at bay to ultimately grab the win 38-27. 

The Panthers shot 41.5% from the floor (17-41), while holding Osborne to just 28.9% in the contest and winning the rebounding battle 32-21. John Johnson once again led Centralia posting 15 points and seven rebounds earning Community National Bank "Player to Bank On" on the radio, while Deters scored seven points and Dustin Talley posted six points and 12 rebounds. 

With the win the Panther boys finish the season 19-7 on the year, claiming their second State title in school history, first since 2002 when head coach, Cole Alderfer was a player on that team. Centralia opened State by taking down Pretty Prairie 58-42, then downing Hanover 54-44 in the Semifinals and finishing the State tournament with a win over Osborne for the State title. 

Centralia capped a basketball season with both the girls and boys winning State titles in the same year just like in 2002 and is one of two schools of 22 that qualified both girls and boy’s teams for State that had both win State titles (other Bishop Miege in Class 4A-DI).