Dodge City KS,

It's the Giant Communications and JBN Telephone Company 'ROAD TO GLORY' presented by Giant Mobile on the MSC Sports Radio Network.

Coming into the 2025 1A Division-1 state tournament, the Centralia Panthers were goal oriented and a team on a mission. After falling in the state semifinals in 2024 to Little River, the Panthers have done nothing but win since then. Placing third in the 2024 state tournament by defeating South Gray 58-52, then pushing into the ’24-25 season the winning continued. Outside of league play, Centralia would beat 3A powerhouses Nemaha Central, and Silver Lake by double digits. Throw in a nine-point win against 3A opponent St. Mary’s and 3A power Marysville by twenty. Now the Twin-Valley League schedule was no joke either, rolling through the league unblemished including wins vs 1A Division-II state champion Hanover twice, and 2025 1A Division-II state runner-up Linn by 25.

A re-match of the 2024 state semi-final was on the docket for the 2025 state title, and it lived up to the billing. Centralia would win the tip and control the game early, leading 6-0 before Little River showed why they were 23-0 coming into this game. After the early start it was back and forth to end the frame where Centralia would take a 13-8 lead heading into the second thanks to a half-court heave drilled by Senior Oen Deters.

In the second the Redskins would crank up the heat from behind the half-moon, drilling five three’s in the quarter with Junior Arika Feldman draining three of them. Little River got Centralia out of rhythm a little bit and took advantage as they outscored the Panthers 17-11 in the quarter to take a halftime lead by one, 25-24.

All season long Head Coach Dusty Thompson said he wanted to get to halftime and discuss adjustments and let the kids be heard. “They have ideas, and I let them voice their thoughts of the game as well”, Thompson said. Well, whatever was discussed at halftime on Saturday resonated with Deters and crew as they absolutely dominated the third frame outscoring the Redskins 17-5. Of the 17 Panther points, Deters had 15 of them including three triples to give Centralia the lead 41-30 heading to the final quarter of play.

Little River is a good team, and a team that wouldn’t go away quietly. The Redskins came onto the floor extremely aggressive in the fourth, scoring five quick points to trim the lead down to six just two minutes into the quarter. From then on it was go time for both teams. Centralia was able to keep Little River at arm’s length, not allowing the Redskins to get any closer than four in the final six minutes of game time. HUGE free throws down the stretch as Deters, and fellow Senior Tatum Kramer combined to go 4-4 from the free throw line to ice the game. The Panthers accomplished their goal and sit a top the 1A Division-1 Girls Mountain, defeating Little River 50-43, avenging the 50-42 loss from the season prior.

Centralia was led by Deters, who poured in 29 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and offered up four assists. She was the Farmers State Bank in Onaga player to bank on. Sophomore Tava Gibbs played phenomenal defense all night long against 5’11 and 6’1 post presences from Little River while dropping 10 points and 7 boards. Sophomore Hayden Kramer added 5 points and 10 rebounds in the game before fouling out of the contest with :56 left in regulation. Senior Tatum Kramer added four points on the night and played lock down defense against one of the best young guards in the state from the Redskins. Sophomore Josie Haverkamp battled foul trouble, but ensured nothing was available in the lane alongside Gibbs and was able to score 2 points and secure 6 rebounds.

Centralia will lose T. Kramer, Deters, Isabel Haverkamp and Kyra Niehues to graduation, but will look to continue their winning ways next year with a great foundation laid in front of them.

There are plenty of ups and downs on the “Road to Glory”, but the Panthers found their way. 26-0, riding a 27 game winning streak. They are your 1A Division-1 State Champions for 2025. Congratulations to Coach Thompson and everyone in the Orange and Black. What a season!