Valley Heights and Centralia both won a game on Friday night in Centralia with the Mustangs girls’ team winning 54-42 and the Panthers boys’ team winning 53-46.

The Centralia girls started off well with senior guard Lena Haverkamp making a pair of threes to go up 10-6 after the first quarter.

Valley Heights’ awakening came in the second quarter with 20 points thanks to five each from Kaylee Skalla and Ava Smith. The Mustangs took a 26-20 lead into the halftime break.

The Panthers’ shooting went cold in the third quarter scoring just five points and Valley Heights continuing their offensive success to grow their lead to 17 going into the fourth quarter.

Centralia sophomore guard Oen Deters would score 13 points in the final quarter, but it wouldn’t be enough as the Mustangs shot 12-for-15 from the free-throw line to seal the victory. Valley Heights didn’t make a single field goal in the fourth quarter.

Skalla led Valley Heights in scoring with 14 points which makes her the “Player to Bank On” brought to you by Farmers State Bank.

Ava Smith finished with 13 points and Taya Smith scored 11.

Deters led Centralia in points with 18 and Haverkamp ended with 12 points.

The first half of the boys’ game was back-and-forth with Centralia senior guard Trenton Talley scoring eight points in the first quarter.

The Panthers would have a 27-25 halftime lead with Talley surpassing the double-digit scoring mark already.

The third quarter was the difference in the game with the Panthers winning the frame 15-8. Centralia’s lockdown defense wouldn’t allow Valley Heights to get back into the game as they made key shots and free throws in the fourth quarter.

Talley led everyone in scoring with 18 points making him the “Player to Bank On” brought to you by Farmers State Bank. Senior forward Brock Reinecke added 13 points as well with ten in the second half.

For Valley Heights, senior guard Caden Parker led the team with 12 points.