The Black Hills boys basketball team stayed in the hunt for a first-round home game in the 2A District tournament, beating Centralia 70-54 at Ron Brown Court on Friday.
The Wolves (11-7, 8-2 2A EvCo) came out firing with 21 points in the first quarter, but the Tigers (3-12, 2-8 2A EvCo) hung tough, keeping the deficit at five going into halftime.
That all changed in an 18-8 third quarter, which gave the guests a bit of breathing room.
Simon Nysted drilled three 3-pointers and finished 9 for 17 from the field en route to a game-high 25 points to lead the Wolves, while Quinton Morrill scored 12 and Talon Morrill added 10.
Four Tigers finished in double-digits, with Landon Jenkins scoring 14 points, Cohen Ballard scoring 13, Brady Sprague scoring 11 and David Daarud adding 10. Haines, Daarud and Jenkins all had six rebounds, and Haines dished out four assists.
Black Hills will be back in action at home late Tuesday with a Pioneer Bowl matchup against Tumwater; a second win over the T-Birds would guarantee the Wolves a top-two finish in the 2A EvCo.
Centralia will get its own rivalry game Tuesday, at home against W.F. West.
