CENTRALIA — Falling to number three-ranked Centralia on the road in the first game of 2026, the Clifton-Clyde girls basketball team fell 40-29.
The Eagles took an early 7-0 lead, with all seven points coming from Sevy Wurtz, before the Tigers finally got on the board more than four minutes after the game started. Clifton-Clyde continued to keep the pressure on the Tigers and ended the first quarter with a 10-5 lead.
Centralia started to put some pressure on the Eagles to start the second quarter, scoring four straight points to make it a 10-9 game, but a pair of baskets from Wurtz and Paige Joy halfway through the quarter gave the cushion back to the Eagles. Centralia tied the game 14-all. Wurtz made another basket to retake the lead, but a three-pointer and a close shot for the Tigers gave them a 19-16 lead at halftime.
The Tigers slowly tried to pull away in a defensive battle, leading 23-18 three minutes into the third quarter, but a Wurtz and-one made it a one-possession game. Outside of two more Wurtz free throws and two from Eden Close, the Tigers scored eight points to close the third quarter and held a 31-25 lead over the Eagles.
A Close and-one opened the fourth quarter and made it a three-point game with just under six minutes to play. The Eagle offense ran into an offensive wall, making only one free throw in the final 5:56, while the Tigers scored nine points to put away the Eagles 40-29.
Sevy Wurtz led in scoring with 19 points, and added 11 rebounds, two steals and an assist.
Eden Close had seven points, seven rebounds and an assist.
Paige Joy had three points, eight rebounds and an assist.
