92.1 KMZA Broadcast - Centralia at Frankfort (girls) - click here to listen 
92.1 KMZA Broadcast - Centralia at Frankfort (boys) - click here to listen 

The calendar as flipped to a new year and the Holiday break is the rear view mirror as area teams hit the hardwood to get back to action on Tuesday night. The Frankfort Wildcats played host to fellow USD 380 school in the Centralia Panthers in a Twin Valley League twinbill to open the second half of the season and when the night ended it was a split. The lady Panthers used an offensively efficient night to gain a 71-54 win, while the Frankfort boys battled for a 62-61 overtime victory at home. 

The night started with a see-saw contest unfolding for between the Centralia and Frankfort girls going back and forth and balanced offense helped Centralia hold a 33-31 advantage at the half. Frankfort started the second half with a three-point bucket by Jessa Yaussi to take a 34-33 lead but Centralia's offense started to little the scoreboard up hitting five three's in the quarter and outscoring the Wildcats 21-12 in the third to take control of the game. Centralia continued to use their presence inside too in the second half like they did in the first half and continued to push the lead out and ultimately secure the 71-54 win. 

Seven gals scored for Centralia on the night with six of the seven posting seven or more points. Morgan Kramer led the Panthers with her second straight 20+ point performance netting 20 points hitting four three's in the game and earned Community National Bank "Player to Bank" honors on KMZA. Maegan Koch and Madison Lueger each chipped in double figures scoring 15 and 12 points, respectively, while the game also marked the return of Katie Glatczak who returned from a back injury and scored seven points off the bench. With the win Centralia improved to 6-0 on the season and 5-0 in the TVL, while also extending their win streak to 28-straight games. 

Frankfort with the loss fell to 3-4 on the season and 2-2 in the TVL and was led by Emilee Ebert with a season high 27 points. Yaussi chipped in 13 points, while Kennan Brandt scored 11. 

The boys game was tight early just like the girls affair but remained tight all the way down to the wire and needed an extra period to decide the game. After Centralia took the early advantage Frankfort worked to a 7-6 lead with 4:31 left in the first quarter and led the rest of the way in the frame until Alec Duryea drained a buzzer beating three to end the frame and give Centralia an 18-17 lead. Frankfort snagged the lead back early into the second at 19-18 and it remained that way for a while as both teams struggled offensively in the second for a bit and the Wildcats appeared to be set to take a lead into the half until Centralia got a bucket, steal and another bucket to go up 28-27 headed into the half. Nathan Rempe hit the second bucket in the sequence as the horned sounded right before the half for Centralia. 

The teams traded blows back and forth in the third only to be knotted up at 43-43 after three quarters of play. Going down the stretch Centralia held the three-point advantage as the clock dwindled down and Jedd Rose got set up for a game tying three out of the out bounds play and with 6.8 seconds left drained it to tie the game at 58-58. Panthers were looking for their third buzzer beater of the game this time to win it and Duryea tossed up a jumper but it came up empty and to overtime the game went. Both teams couldn't find the bottom of the net in overtime but a 3-6 performance from the line from Brendan Levi gave Frankfort a three-point lead and after a Centralia miscue Adam Kenworthy was fouled and in the final seconds of overtime hit 1-2 free throws to ice the game for Frankfort, as Duryea hit a three for Centralia to bring them within one but time expired before the Panthers could get another opportunity and Frankfort won 62-61 in overtime. 

Kenworthy with the game sealing free throw and a season high 24 points earned Community National Bank "Player to Bank On" honors on KMZA for Frankfort, while Rose chipped in 16 points. The Wildcats with the win improved to 3-4 on the year and 2-2 in the TVL. 

Centralia in the loss was led by Duryea who scored a season best 22 points, while Kamble Haverkamp tallied 13 points as the Panthers fell to 3-3 on the season and 2-3 in the TVL. 

Both teams continue the season with League action on Friday as Centralia will host Hanover in a battle of ranked teams which will be on 92.1 KMZA, while Frankfort gets home cooking again as they host Blue Valley-Randolph.