Anthony Ford wasn’t able to play in football districts for Centralia when the Panthers defeated rival Hallsville.

Centralia vs Hallsville Districts Photo Gallery

It was far from the same situation on Thursday in the Class 4 District 8 semifinals when No. 3 seed Centralia knocked off No. 2 seed Hallsville 54-46 to beat the Indians in districts for the first time since 2012. The Panthers go for a district championship at 1 p.m. Saturday against Mexico (25-2) for the first time since 2019.

“Something we harped on at half was no matter what happens, just empty your tank,” head coach Scott Humphrey said. “We talk to them about how we built this thing the last eight years on competing, toughness and grit. That’s who we are, that’s what we got to do and that’s why we get to move on.”

Ford had to sit out with a pulled hamstring in October when Centralia followed two district eliminations to Hallsville with a 24-18 victory this past season. The sophomore was healthy and then some this time around, recording a double-double of 13 points and 14 rebounds to follow another in Centralia’s first-round win against Macon two days prior.

“That just makes it feel 10 times better,” Ford said. “There’s nothing that feels better than coming in and winning at home.”

Humphrey said he is “super happy” that “big Ant” is on his team while “playing his best basketball at the right time.” Humphrey said Ford and the Panthers (17-11) combined to outrebound Hallsville 42-30 and ultimately win the season series 2-1. Noah Kropf added eight rebounds to his 15 points, Cullen Bennett had five rebounds with his nine points, and Elliott McCoy grabbed seven rebounds. 

Centralia didn’t allow the Indians’ shooters to take more shots at the rim and kept Hallsville (17-10) to a season-low 46 points after not finishing below 50 points all season long. Humphrey praised Logan Rosenfelder on keeping Keilin Dorman out of the lane and limiting him to six points.

“Our guards chased their guards around,” Humphrey said. “They’re a tough matchup for us because they put four guards out there. I thought we did a fantastic job of going over the top of their screens. Rebounding was the biggest key in limiting them to one shot.”

“Last time we were up, we knew what they did,” Ford said while referring to Centralia’S regular-season finale loss to Hallsville after leading by four at halftime. “They came out, fired up threes and they made them. We had to shut that down and take care of the ball, slow it down and play our game.”

Zach Jouret managed to score 21 points and hit five 3-pointers to lead Hallsville, keeping the Indians’ hopes alive in the fourth quarter’s final minute with three 3-pointers. Xavier Stinson followed with five points and 11 rebounds. 

Travis Brooks helped secure a Centralia victory with three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, putting him at 12 points with four makes from beyond the arc.

“Travis Brooks in the fourth quarter was unbelievable,” Humphrey said. “He got hot, and it was great.”

However, neither offense was hot in the first half as Hallsville led 12-7 with two minutes gone in the second quarter. The Panthers forced a Hallsville timeout after scoring in transition, taking a 19-14 lead and then a 24-17 halftime advantage.

When the score was tied at 32 heading into the fourth quarter, Centralia executed some poetry in motion by scoring at the other end without letting the ball touch the floor too much. Ford snatched a couple of rebounds to begin the chain.

“We just rebounded and got out,” Humphrey said. “They pressured us a little bit, we got numbers when they trapped, got past their tarp and you just have to go sometimes.”

Centralia has some first-hand scouting of eighth-ranked Mexico when it lost to the Bulldogs 56-41 in Centralia this season. The Panthers face another team that can be deadly in transition.

“The thing I know is my kids are going to show up,” Humphrey said. “They’re going to battle, they’re going to play hard for each other, they’re going to play hard for this community and that’s all you can ask.”

“I couldn’t do it without these boys,” Ford said. “I really appreciate them.”