Centralia Panther Girls & Boys Basketball Teams

For the second time in school history the Centralia Panthers girl’s and boys’ basketball teams both claimed State Championship as they travelled to Dodge City this year and earned Class 1A-Division I State titles.

The Panthers redid ’02 as the girls and boys each claimed State titles and Centralia is one of two schools this year to win both a girls and boys basketball State title. Only 22 schools had an opportunity to do that with both teams at the State tournament.

For the lady Panthers they hit the court this year looking to return to the State Championship game and better their State runner-up finish and that they did. In the opening round of State the Panthers out battled South Barber for a 55-38 win moving into the Semifinals. The Semifinals gave Centralia a rematch with Hoxie from last year’s title match and the Panthers ended Hoxie’s run at a potential fifth State title as the Panthers pounced and won 45-30 to get back to the State Championship game. In the Championship game Centralia took down Waverly claiming the win 54-36 to win their fifth State title in school history.

Centralia girls finished out the season riding a 23-game winning streak and a 25-1 record winning the 1A-DI State title, while winning the Twin Valley League regular season and tournament title. The Panthers won the TVL regular season with a 12-0 mark and brought home the TVL tourney title for the 11^th time in 20 years of the tournament.

The boys were back in the State tournament for the first time since 2013 and some late season momentum stretched into the State action propelling the Panthers to the State title. Drawing the four vs. five seed matchup in the first round Centralia took on Pretty Prairie and took care of the Bulldogs 58-42 with a solid all-round performance. In the Semifinals it was a familiar foe standing in front of the Panthers as they took fellow TVL team & 1A-DI defending champs the Hanover Wildcats for the third time in the season. The rubber match went the way of Centralia picking up the win 54-44 to earn the right to play for the State title. In the State title game the Panthers pounced early on Osborne and used a solid halftime lead to claim the 38-27 win and win the 1A-DI State title.

Centralia boys wrapped up the season with a 19-7 record with the 1A-DI State title. Panthers started the year 7-1 but experienced a bit of adversity midway through the season going 1-4 during a five game stretch but they responded to finish the regular season and make State by going 6-2 down the stretch.

In the 16^th and 15^th trips to State for Centralia girls and boys, respectively the Panthers brought home the hardware to continue to fill a packed trophy case at Centralia high school.