2017 Centralia Girls Sub-State Champions (photo courtesy USD 380 Twitter)

The defense of the Class 1A-Division I State title for the Centralia lady Panthers started off with a big win in the first round of the State tournament in Hays cruising past Quinter 67-34. 

Back and forth early Centralia pounced on their inside advantage to hold a 14-9 lead after the first quarter. Panthers behind eight points from Cassidy Haufler went on to expand their lead in the second quarter with an 18-9 frame and carried a 32-18 at the half. Shots flooded in for Centralia in the third quarter as the Panthers continued to run out their lead outscoring Quinter 20-9 in the third lead by Katie Glatczak who had eight points in the quarter. The Panthers cruised the remainder of the contest picking up the first round State win 67-34 over the Quinter Bulldogs. 

Glatczak led Centralia with 21 points hitting 7-14 shots in the contest and earned Community National Bank "Player to Bank On" honors on KMZA. Haufler dominated inside with 19 points and nine rebounds, while Madison Lueger scored 10 points and had six assists and Maegan Koch tallied nine points with 13 rebounds. Panthers out-rebounded the Bulldogs 38-24 in the win and finished 15-17 from the free throw line while shooting 52.2% from the floor. Centralia held Quinter to 3-21 from three-pointers and 27.8% shooting from the floor. 

The win moves Centralia to 23-1 on the season and into the 1A-DI Semifinals on Friday, March 10th in Hays at 3:00pm against Hanover. The appearance is the appearance in the Final Four is the 12th in school history of 17 trips to State.