CENTRALIA — Starting the year on a slow start, the Clifton-Clyde boys basketball team fell on the road to TVL foe Centralia, 63-45, due to a rocky first half.
The Eagles scored on their first possession of the game on a Landon Begnoche put-back to take the early lead, with an Emitt Tiemeyer layup to put them up 4-0 before Centralia finally got on the board. The Tigers took full control of the momentum with a 9-2 run to take the lead, before a Levi Thrasher put-back broke the run and made it a 9-8 game. A Tiger three and no baskets for either team in the final two minutes made it a 12-8 Tiger lead after one quarter.
Centralia was able to create some ground in the second quarter, going on a 13-1 run, before a Tiemeyer layup finally put some life into the Eagles and made it a 25-11 game. Both teams would match each other down the stretch, as the Eagles trailed 31-15 at halftime.
Both offenses were finding their groove to start the second half, with the Tigers getting the edge with a 7-5 difference in the first three minutes. Centralia was attacking the basket and getting to the line, with the Eagles getting looks from distance. At the end of the third quarter, the Eagles trailed 50-27.
Things would start to look good for the Eagles in the final quarter, having their best scoring output of the game, starting with an Ethan Sacco three-pointer, the Eagles scored 18 points in the quarter and outscored the Tigers 18-13. The Eagles ran out of time and fell to Centralia 63-45 to drop the league opener.
Landon Begnoche led in scoring with 10 points and had four rebounds, three steals and a block.
Levi Thrasher and Luke Nobert each had seven points, with the duo combining for five rebounds.
Emitt Tiemeyer had six points and two rebounds.
Nine Eagles scored points in this game.
