Girls basketball: La Center 52, Kalama 50

Despite some struggles on Monday, the La Center girls basketball team slipped past visiting Kalama in the first showdown of the season between the top two teams in the Class 1A Trico League.

Taylor Mills scored 12 of her 19 points in the second half as the Wildcats edged the Chinooks 52-50 in a game between the two remaining unbeatens in league play entering the week.

La Center (11-1, 6-0 Trico) won despite making only 10 of 31 free throws.

Kalama (9-4, 5-1) took a two-point lead into the fourth quarter, but La Center held the lead for much of the final period despite its free-throw struggles.

Laynie Erickson and Taylor Stephens scored timely baskets down the stretch for the Wildcats.

“It was a great team effort tonight,” La Center coach Herm VanWeerdhuizen said. “We’ve got a lot of improving to do, but I was proud of how the girls played tonight.”

Mills finished with 11 rebounds for a double-double. Bethany Whitten had nine steals and four assists.

Parker Esary scored 17 points and Kaelyn Shipley 16 for Kalama. The Chinooks scored 23 points in the second quarter to lead by eight at halftime. But Kalama’s shooting cooled off in the second half.

LA CENTER 52, KALAMA 50

KALAMA — Macey Sykes 0, Madison Hull 0, Serena Montanez 7, Kaelyn Shipley 16, Jaden Howard 6, Parker Esary 17, Skylar Nelson 0, Emily Nickelson 2, Natalie Wilson 2. Totals 20-48 (1) 9-15 50.

LA CENTER — Molly Edwards 8, Ashley Denney 0, Bethany Whitten 6, Shelby Vermeulen 3, Laynie Erickson 6, Taylor Mills 19, Andrea Griffee 2, Taylor Stephens 8. Totals 21-52 (0) 10-31 52.

Kalama 8 23 10 9–50

La Center 9 14 16 13–52

JV — Kalama won.