La Center’s Aguirre takes aim at 1,000-point milestone in 1A regional

There’s nothing wild about this Wildcat.

Yet, Wyatt Aguirre has left quite a mark on the La Center boys basketball program.

The senior guard enters Saturday’s Class 1A state playoff game needing six points to reach 1,000 for his varsity career. He would be the ninth La Center player to reach that milestone and the first since Nate Alanko in 2003.

Katie Whitten stands tall for La Center girls basketball team

King’s Way Christian gets state tournament trip off to rolling start.

He hasn’t done it with flashy dunks or by chucking up 30 shots a game.

“I just show up and do my job,” he said.

And what a job he has done. Aguirre has led La Center to the regional round of the state playoffs two of the past three years.

La Center (14-8) will face Lynden Christian (15-8) at 4 p.m. in Tumwater. The winner advances to the final eight at the SunDome in Yakima.

The Wildcats haven’t been to the quarterfinals since the 1990s, when La Center went to state five consecutive years and won championships in 1996 and 1997.

“I think that would be really cool not only for the program but the whole school,” senior forward Max Hiller said. “Back in the late 90s we were a dominant force. It would be good to get back to that level.”

Also a first-team all-league quarterback, Aguirre has a speedy burst that allows him to get to the rim. He also prides himself on hard-nosed defense, which he says is crucial to creating points for the offense.

“He’s just a guy who comes in and gets after it in his own way,” La Center coach Jon Schroeder said. “He’s not really verbal most of the time, but he has his times when he steps up and has a few things to say.”

And when Aguirre talks, teammates listen.

“You see him working hard and using his quickness to the best of his ability,” Hiller said. “I think it inspires us to push ourselves.”

La Center was 2-5 after a holiday tournament in Yakima, but the Wildcats found their groove. La Center won six in a row before losing the district title game to Castle Rock.

Schroeder said you can gauge the tenor of the team by looking at Aguirre.

“I think guys keep a pretty close eye on him,” Schroeder said. “He’s a good barometer of where we’re at. It’s a huge responsibility, but so goes him, so goes us.”

Being the bellwether for a team is a big burden to bear. Schroeder says Aguirre is up to the task.

“You’re either blessed with it or you’re not,” Schroeder said. “I think there’s some things that we’ve helped foster. You can talk and teach, but it really has to come from the individual. Without question, he’s had a great four years.”

The Wildcats hope to extend their season by at least two more games at the SunDome. They say that would be a fitting cap to Aguirre’s career.

“I think it’s pretty incredible,” senior guard Will Rice said. “All his hard work and dedication the past four years has really paid off.”