Girls basketball: La Center 65, Kalama 62

Taylor Stephens had 22 points and Taylor Mills added 11 points and eight rebounds as La Center opened the season with a non-league win over a former Trico League rival.

The Wildcats and Chinooks played last season for the 1A district title. Kalama this season is playing as a Class 2B school.

Parker Esary scored 23 of her game-high 34 points in the second half as Kalama tried to rally from a 30-18 halftime deficit.

“Esary went crazy on us in the second half,” La Center coach Herm VanWeerdhuizen said. “A lot of her second half points came on 3-point plays as we tried to stop her by fouling and she still made baskets.”

Molly Edwards had 16 points and five steals for La Center, and Laynie Erickson had seven rebounds.

LA CENTER 65, KALAMA 62

KALAMA — LaRoy 6, Hall 2, Shipley 12, Howard 3, Esary 34, Mickelson 5, Wilson 0, Montanez 0, Nelson 0. Totals 23-49 (3) 13-24 62.

LA CENTER — Laynie Erickson 4, Alyssa McKnight 0, Whitley Seter 2, Molly Edwards 16, Bethany Whitten 10, Taylor Mills 11, Taylor Stephens 22. Totals 22-51 (7) 14-22 65.

Kalama 11 7 17 25–62

La Center 9 21 15 20–65

JV — La Center won.