The roars of the Fort Vancouver Trappers faithful outweighed the La Center faithful in a 78-52 Wildcats loss to conclude the final season on home court.
The loss for La Center on Thursday, Feb. 5, caused a slip in the standings as both Kalama and King’s Way Christian high schools picked up wins. The trio of teams land at 10-4 in the league standings. The Wildcats finished the regular season at 13-8 overall and in third place in the 1A Trico League in some standings.
The Fort Vancouver Trappers quite literally rocketed off to an explosive start with Jaxen Appelt launching up for three first-quarter dunks en route to a 28-16 start for the Trappers.
The Wildcats were never fully able to dig out of the first quarter hole despite the positive second quarter score of 13-12. Despite the upper hand in the second quarter, the score remained with an 11-point difference of 40-29. With momentum starting to lean the Wildcats way at halftime, the hopes of narrowing the Trapper lead were instantly dunked on yet again by Appelt. The third quarter ended 59-38.
The Wildcats were led by Gunnar Shockelt’s and Peyton Larkin’s 14 points a piece.
While landing at third place in the league standings, according to the 1A Trico League website, the Wildcats are set to face off against the No. 2 seed out of the 1A Evergreen Conference in the 1A District 4 tournament. La Center will either travel to Montesano or Elma on Thursday, Feb. 12, with time to be determined.
Regular season concludes for local 2A, 1A squads with postseason implications
The Woodland Beavers boys basketball squad earned the second seed out of the 2A GSHL and will host the winner between W.F. West and Mark Morris high school on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 6 p.m.
The Ridgefield Spudders boys basketball team will begin their 2A District 4 tournament early hosting the fourth seed out of the 2A Evergreen Conference on Thursday, Feb. 12, in the play-in round. The Spudders finished the season fifth in the 2A GSHL standings.
In girls basketball, the La Center Wildcats enter the 1A District 4 tournament as the Trico League fourth seed, landing a Friday, Feb. 13 matchup at Hoquiam High School, time to-be-determined.
The Woodland Beavers, Ridgefield Spudders and the Hockinson Hawks have found themselves in the 2A District 4 tournament.
