ILWACO – LaCenter held Ilwaco to single-digit scoring in three of four quarters as they rolled to a 49-32 Trico-League victory at Carl Aase Gym Thursday. The Lady Wildcats’ full-court press and match-up zone defense vaulted the visitors to 12-0 lead and forced a dozen turnovers in the first period alone.

LaCenter went on a 9-0 jaunt in the second quarter and a 14-0 stretch midway through the final two. Fortunately the Lady Wildcats shot 33 percent for the contest from the field or the margin of victory would have been wider.

Then there were the five-minutes in the second quarter when the Lady Fishermen totally dominated LaCenter. Ilwaco settled down, passed the ball crisply over the diamond-and-one press, drove to the basket, and converted their shots.

The poise of Heather Hocking, senior guard, and Katie Holmes, Ashley Fauver, and Ashley Kitzman among others in breaking the press and moving the ball was the difference in Ilwaco’s positive string of points. Kitzman sank three foul shots after being hacked on a long shot, Ariel Barker banked three field goals in from close range, Hockings swished a picture-perfect “three,” and Fauver scored on a jump shot during the scoring binge for the Lady Fishermen.

Unfortunately for Ilwaco, the Lady Wildcats allowed the home team to score only three more field goals throughout the third and most of the final quarter after the Lady Fishermen had drawn to within four points at 19-23 in the second period. LaCenter coach, Herm VanWeerdhuizen allowed his reserves to play the final one of the game and Ilwaco’s Hocking, Fauver, and Kitzman all scored following the previous 16 minute draught.

The Lady Fishermen shot a dismal 20 percent from the field on 11 of 54 shots. They made six of 11 free throws for 55 percent while the Lady Wildcats were 6-15 from the line for 40 percent and 21-63 from the field. LaCenter committed 12 fouls to Ilwaco’s 17, forced the Lady Fishermen into turning the ball over 32 times to 26 of their own, and out-rebounded Ilwaco 51 to 33.

All-League Lady Wildcat, Jennifer Stanfill snagged 12 rebounds and scored 21 points, despite not seeing the ball for long periods of time in VanWeerdhuizen’s offensive scheme. Teammate Tanya Baker was credited with nine steals.

Hocking had a “double-double” with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Barker also pulled down a dozen boards. Kitzman and Fauver were responsible for six steals apiece and Holmes handed out three assists.

The Lady Fishermen are now 9-5 on the season and have a three-win, four-loss record in the Trico. Their next action will be at home Saturday, Feb. 8 as the first half of a double-header against Stevenson, with the boys’ varsity contest to follow.

The junior varsity, missing key players due to illness, dropped a close game 29-32, despite leading for three periods against the Lady Wildcats. Herlet Padilla scored 12 points and Laura Herbold made 8, as the Ilwaco JVs dropped to 2-7 on the year.

LaCenter 19 6 15 9 -49

Ilwaco 5 14 4 9 -32

Ilwaco – Hocking 12, Barker 8, Fauver 7, Kitzman 4, Holmes 1, Wroble, Unruh, Tomberlin.

LaCenter – Stanfill 21, Baker 9, Davis 5, Roggenkamp 5, Moore 5, Sexton 4