Playoff positioning at stake when Panthers girls host Bulldogs

Tatum Lushenko (No. 13) and Kamryn Winkler apply defensive pressure against Silverton on Tuesday. The Foxes prevailed, however, to snap the Panthers 5-game winning streak. Photo by Lance Masterson.

The Panthers varsity girls basketball team aims to return to their winning ways when they host West Albany, 7 p.m., on Friday.

This is an important contest as the two teams jockey for playoff positioning. Both teams boast identical marks (6-6, 10-8 overall) and are tied for fifth in the Mid-Willamette Conference.

Central is ranked 10th by the OSAA; the Bulldogs are 17th. But the Panthers lost to West Albany, 58-56, earlier this season.

Central began the week on a roll, having won five straight games. But that streak was snapped Tuesday in a 70-38 rout to third-ranked Silverton.

Panthers guard Hadley Craig was sidelined by a blow to the face in the second period. She did not return. It is not known if she’ll play against West Albany.

In other action, the girls defeated Lebanon, 65-45, on Jan. 30, and edged seventh-ranked South Albany, 60-57, on Friday.

Four Panthers players reached double figures against the Warriors. Ashley Barba led the quartet with 17 points while Craig netted 16, freshman Bella Names 14, and McKenzie Wells 10. Craig added a team-high 13 rebounds.

The game was close at intermission, with Central up 27-25. But the Panthers poured it on in the second half, with 38 points.

Izzie Allydice led Lebanon with 12 points and eight boards.

On Friday, the Redhawks proved a much sterner test, as Central edged the visitors, 60-57, behind another double-double performance from Craig. She netted 25 points and 12 rebounds.

Names added 12 points, Barba 11. Emily Newbeck and Wells added key baskets down the stretch.

Taylor Donaldson, for South Albany, led all players with 26 points.