La Center, Castle Rock to play for 1A boys basketball district title

CHEHALIS — The La Center Wildcats will play for a district championship and, more importantly, they have clinched a spot in the Class 1A state boys basketball tournament.

Meanwhile, the Trico League’s top seed, King’s Way Christian, will have to play an elimination game Wednesday to keep its season alive.

La Center, behind Will Rice’s 17 points, topped Kalama 66-58 late Saturday at W.F. West High School in the semifinals of the District 4 1A boys basketball tournament.

King’s Way could not hold off Castle Rock in its semifinal.

La Center will play Castle Rock in the district championship Friday. King’s Way will take on Eatonville in its loser-out game.

LA CENTER 66, KALAMA 58 — Will Rice scored 17 points, Wyatt Aguirre added 15 with five assists, and the Wildcats defense recorded 16 steals to make it to the district championship game.

“We’ve always been known as a shooting team. Playing defense is what the real difference-maker is,” said Chase Davison, who had six steals and 13 points.

Now the Wildcats will get to take that defense to state.

“It’s a great feeling,” Davison said. “We felt like we deserved it in the past but we messed it up. Great to know we’re going there.”

“We worked so hard this season, and it paid off,” added Brody Seter, who had 13 points and four steals off the bench. “Can’t stop working hard, though. We gotta keep playing hard.”

Seter led the team in scoring in the first half with nine points. He finished 6 of 9 from the floor.

“I try to do what’s best for the team,” said La Center’s sixth-man specialist. “If it means scoring, I’ll try to score. If it means passing, I’ll pass. I just want to win.”

Aguirre made 7 of his 12 shots. Rice was 6 of 12 from the floor. La Center made 27 of 45 — 60 percent — for the game.

The defense-leading-to-easy baskets sure helped that stat. Davison got a steal to start a break that Aguirre finished, then Aguirre got a steal that led to a Davison lay-up late in the third quarter, giving La Center a 13-point lead.

Kalama cut the deficit to six points with a minute to play, but La Center was able to make enough free throws to never feel threatened in the fourth quarter.

CASTLE ROCK 58, KING’S WAY CHRISTIAN 54 — King’s Way Christian junior Kienan Walter scored all 19 of his team’s points in the fourth quarter, but the Rockets got 22 fourth-quarter points from Ty Johnson and Brock Johnson as Castle Rock took a thrilling finish.

Brock Johnson’s 3-pointer with a minute to play tied the game at 54. After a King’s Way miss, Ty Johnson drove through traffic down the lane and scored to make it 56-54 with 25 seconds left.

Walter’s next shot rolled around the rim and came out, and the Rockets made their free throws to stun the Knights.

Brock Johnson led Castle Rock with 28 points.

Walter finished with 29 for the Knights.

LA CENTER 66, KALAMA 58

LA CENTER — Chase Davison 13, Will Rice 17, Wyatt Aguirre 15, Max Hiller 3, Jake Wise 0, Brody Seter 13, Dalton Morgan 5. Totals 27-45 (5-12) 7-14 66.

KALAMA — Blake Stemkoski 24, Isaac Truesdel 15, Jonas VanSkike 0, Austin Dines 4, Hunter Esary 2, Victor Leatzow 6, Cameron Walker 7, Tanner Stemkoski 0. Totals 19-49 (12-26) 8-9 58.

La Center 15 12 20 19—66

Kalama 11 12 14 21—58

CASTLE ROCK 58, KING’S WAY CHRISTIAN 54

CASTLE ROCK — Ty Johnson 17, Taite Kleine 2, Brock Johson 28, Mason Klingberg 6, Kyle Koopman 5, Nick Proudfit 0. Totals 15 (5) 23-31 58.

KING’S WAY — Cole Jensen 6, Nick Pulicella 0, Karter Graves 0, Mikey Johnson 2, Joe Mills 4, Kyle Gonzales 11, Arda Ayden 2, Kienen Walter 29. Totals 18 (2) 16-22 54.

Castle Rock 7 17 10 24—58

King’s Way 15 7 13 19—54