The Centralia girls won with a strong second half by a final score of 55-33, and the Hiawatha boys won on a putback mid-range buzzer beater by a final score of 47-45.

In the girls game, Centralia got off to a quick start with Josie Haverkamp scoring five first quarter points. Abby Elffner matched that total for the Red Hawks to keep them in it.

Going into the break, the Panthers held on to a six-point lead with the score being 24-18. To start the second half, Hiawatha was able to get within two points at 26-24.

The Panthers proceeded to score 15 unanswered points which continued to a 22-4 run. This put Centralia up 48-28 and ended up being the deciding factor in the ballgame.

Keelyn Rempe scored eight fourth quarter points and finished with 11 points. Oen Deters also tied for the team lead with 11 points. They are both your Players of the Game brought to you by Farmers State Bank.

Haverkamp finished the ballgame with ten points. Elffner led the Red Hawks in scoring with 11 points as well.

In the boys game, it started with both teams scoring rapidly. Paxton Bowers scored ten first quarter points for the Panthers to give them a 17-13 lead. Cooper Jacobsen had six points for Hiawatha in the opening frame and Ethan Morton added five more.

In the second quarter, the scoring slowed down and the Red Hawks closed the gap to tie the game 25-25 at halftime.

Both teams made three field goals, and Centralia held on to a 36-34 lead into the final quarter.

Just like last year’s game between these two teams, it came down to the wire.

Reese Tanking made a pair of free throws with 9.3 seconds left to tie the game 45-45. As the time ticked down, Cameron Boswell shot a contested three pointer for the lead which was too strong, but Lane Kesler was there to clean it up with a fadeaway mid-range jumper to beat the buzzer to give the Red Hawks their second win on the young regular season.

Kesler is undoubtedly the Player of the Game brought to you by Farmers State Bank. He finished with six points with four of those coming in the fourth quarter. Jacobsen led Hiawatha in scoring with 14 and Morton added 13 points.

Bowers finished with 19 to lead all scorers. Tanking also added 14 points in the tough loss.