ADNA — If the game that the Wahkiakum and Adna girls basketball teams played on Thursday had happened in February it likely would have gone down as one for the ages. As it happens, though, it’s still January and memories of the outcome will likely be lost to the sands of time following what figures to be a lengthy playoff run from both teams.
That’s not to say that the outcome was not important to both teams and their respective rabid fan bases.
In the end Wahkiakum and their well-traveling entourage of Mule maniacs wound up celebrating a spirited 63-55 victory over the hometown Pirates in a fierce Central 2B League showdown.
“That’s how it goes. We play each other in the summer and it’s like that,” said Adna coach Chris Bannish of the often-vicious tenor that emanated from both sides of the gymnasium on
Thursday. “When you have two teams that take pride in what they do that’s what you’re going to get.”
Wahkiakum coach Rob Garrett agreed with his counterpart.
“I told the girls before the game, ‘You don’t get this type of atmosphere very often. It’s a playoff district type of atmosphere in the middle of January.’ I told them to just go out and enjoy it,” Garrett said.
Adna jumped out to an early lead in the contest behind the staid scoring efforts of Devanie Kleemeyer and Isabella Elwood, who finished with 14 and 12 points respectively. Elwood also led the Pirates in rebounding with 10. After one quarter that Pirate cushion stood at 15-12. With 3:37 left in the second quarter the Pirates had managed to stretch that lead out to 27-21.
However, the stubborn Mules refused to go home without some vigorous kicking and hee-hawing of their own.
The tide began to turn late in the second quarter when Adna point guard Kenya Lorton headed to the bench with her third foul of the game. Eager to step into that energy void Wahkiakum wunderkind Peyton Souvenir wasted little time taking over the game. The senior do-it-all finished the game with an impressive game-high 28 points, a game-high 13 rebounds, six assists, two steals and one block for good measure.
Thanks to Souvenir’s torrid output Wahkiakum was able to erase their deficit and take a 29-27 lead of their own into halftime.
Bannish called the game a classic matchup between a pair of top-tier point guards. He was just disheartened that his court general, Lorton, was forced to spend significant chunks of the second and third quarters plastered to the bench with a collection of fouls that Bannish considered to be questionable at most, and disappointing in the least.
Wahkiakum ran out on a 10-0 run to start the third quarter and, thanks in part to 4 of 5 shooting from three point land, was able to outpace Adna by a count of 20-8 in the quarter. That scoring rush pushed their lead to 49-35 headed to the final frame.
Unsurprisingly, Garrett was more inclined to praise the play of his team than feel bad for Adna’s bad luck when deciphering the difference in the game.
“I thought the biggest thing defensively was, other than a couple of possessions, we limited them to one shot,” said Garrett, who was also happy to see a supporting cast step up to the challenge of complementing Souvenir. “In the second half I thought we did a lot better job of everyone around her stepping up.”
One week after Souvenir set a school record for scoring in a game with 44 points against Rainier, Bannish was left thoroughly convinced that all in attendance had been watching the genuine article.
“Being a 2B guy my whole life, a lot of people overlook this league and the players in it,” said Bannish. “What (Souvenir’s) doing is a testament to her and the work she’s put in. She deserves everything she’s getting.”
Despite a deficit that grew into double digits Adna’s spark plug, Lorton, was never ready to fold. After posting just a point in the first half Lorton made a second home for herself at the free throw line in the second half and finished with a team-high 17 points.
The resurgent Adna effort was able to cut the Wahkiakum lead to just 6 points with just under a minute remaining but a series of Wahkiakum free throws in crunch time put the game on ice.
“We have a lot of respect for that team,” Garrett said of Adna. Garrett believes the victory will help to solidify a top-eight ranking in the state’s RPI for his team. The Mules (14-0, 11-0 league) will play Kalama in their season finale in a game that will likely determine the top two spots in the final C2BL standings — and, with it, seeding into the District 4 tournament.
Bannish was, of course, disappointed in the loss, but level-headed and clear-eyed enough to see through the fog of war to his team’s ultimate goal.
“We don’t want to be winning these games now. We want to be winning them a few weeks down the road,” said Bannish. “To me, you’re going to get more out of that than blowing somebody out, or the opposite.”
Adna (14-2, 9-2 league) will play at Napavine (8-3 league) on Tuesday in another game with playoff implications.
Napavine Fends Off Hard-Charging Vikings
NAPAVINE — The Tigers had to dig their claws in deep here Thursday night in order to repel an inspired fourth quarter comeback attempt by Mossyrock and hold on for a 53-49 victory in girls Central 2B basketball action.
The two teams were separated by just one point at halftime with Napavine holding a 30-29 advantage. The third quarter saw Napavine extend their lead by 10 points thanks to a 15-5 period but, true to form, the Vikings never considered waving the white flag.
“They did a really good job. It was an 11 point game going into the fourth quarter and they hit some shots,” said Napavine coach Jeremy Landram. “They competed. They’re pretty big. They’re pretty physical.”
Lainee Grose led Mossyrock with 16 points and Jamie Carlson added 13 points for the Vikings. As a team Mossyrock drilled six 3-pointers in the game, “So they shot it pretty well from the outside and they were able to rebound it,” said Landram.
In the end, though, the Viking comeback attempt fell just short.
A shabby 3 of 11 effort from the free throw line did not help the Vikings when the final buzzer tolled.
Landram said that his team’s hot spurt third quarter was key in securing the important league victory.
“We were just able to get some decent looks at the hoop and made some shots,” said Landram, who also noted an improved rebounding output in that third frame. “Our defense, to be able to hold them to five points was really the difference.”
Napavine’s Mollie Olson led all scorers with 21 points, Melissa Lee added 14 points and Becca Snaza chipped in 11 for the Tigers.
“Becca Snaza shot it really well tonight,” said Landram. “Her toe was on the line a lot but she hit a couple 3s. It was good for her to have a game like that where she shot it well.”
Napavine (8-7, 8-3 league) will host Adna on Tuesday in a game that will likely determine 3rd and 4th place in the Central 2B League.
Toledo Blows Past Rainier
RAINIER — Anna Tauscher scored 20 points to lead Toledo to a 66-28 win over Rainier in Central 2B League basketball on Thursday.
Kal Schaplow added 11 points for the Indians. Rainier was led by Nicole Francis and Taylor Holmes with eight points each.
Toledo led 14-7 after the first quarter. The Indians had a big second quarter, holding Rainier to just 4 points to take a 33-11 lead at halftime, allowing Toledo to cruise in the second half to the win.
Toledo was 27 of 59 shooting and grabbed 59 rebounds compared to Rainier’s 22 boards.
“It was one of those games where everything came together for us,” Toledo coach J.B. Ewers said. “We did a good job of forcing turnovers. They took some wild shots and we got the rebounds and were able to get into transition. Our field goal percentage was so high because of good transition baskets.”
Toledo (6-9, 4-7 league) hosts Mossyrock on Tuesday in a league contest.
Pe Ell Edges Winlock
PE ELL — Pe Ell’s Danielle McCarty hit a free throw to put the Trojans ahead, and a last second shot by Winlock didn’t fall as Pe Ell earned a 38-37 win over Winlock in Central 2B League basketball on Thursday.
Dakota Brooks led all scorers with 11 points and added eight rebounds for Pe Ell. Rianna Whitehead and Cheleena Squibb each each had nine points.
Winlock jumped ahead 13-8 after one quarter, but the Trojans battled back and tied the game at 19 going into halftime.
Pe Ell played quality defense in the third quarter, holding Winlock to two points while taking a 28-21 lead going into the fourth quarter. The Cardinals stormed back into the game and tied the game, but Brooks passed the ball to McCarty late in the fourth and was fouled, hitting a free throw to put the Trojans ahead for good as a last second shot didn’t fall for the Cardinals.
“We were fortunate enough that it was off the mark,” Pe Ell coach Chris Phelps said. “We did have a nice lead, up 7 in the third quarter. They got out on us early, but our guards did a good job guarding Whitehead. She’s a great all around player, we were excited about our defensive effort.”
Pe Ell (3-11, 2-7 league) hosts Morton-White Pass on Tuesday in a league contest, while Winlock (3-11, 1-10 league) plays Northwest Christian (Lacey) on Saturday at 4 p.m. in a nonleague game.
Kalama Too Much for Onalaska
ONALASKA — Kaelyn Shipley scored 29 points and Parker Esary added 15 points, pacing the Chinooks to a 59-20 win over Onalaska here in Central 2B League basketball on Thursday.
Onalaska was led by Abby Bogar with 8 points and five rebounds.
Kalama led 17-7 after the first quarter, but poured it on in the second quarter, allowing four points en route to a 33-11 lead at intermission. The Chinooks were able to cruise in the second half for the win.
Onalaska shot 7 of 38 from the field while Kalama was 22 of 53 shooting.
“We held them the best we could the first quarter. A little into the second, then they just took over,” Onalaska coach Dracy McCoy said. “Shipley is a great inside out player, we just couldn’t keep up with them. The girls had a lot of hard work and effort tonight, we just came up against a better team.”
Onalaska (5-9, 4-7 league) hosts Rainier on Tuesday in a C2BL matchup.
Timberwolves Fall to Ducks
RANDLE — Toutle Lake’s Kelsey Wason scored 21 points to lead the Ducks to a 48-31 win over Morton-White Pass in Central 2B League basketball action here on Thursday.
Ashlynn Dean chipped in 13 points and Keeley Studebaker-Smith added 10 points for the Ducks. Taylor Nilius led the Timberwolves with nine points and nine rebounds, and Hannah Smather scored eight points and grabbed 14 rebounds.
Toutle Lake jumped out to a 15-9 lead after the first quarter and padded the lead to 33-17 at halftime. The Ducks continued to play well in the second half to earn the win.
MWP couldn’t find their shooting touch, shooting 12 of 48 from the field, although the Timberwolves did hold the advantage in rebounding, 34-20.
“Our field goal percentage is not where we need it to be,” MWP coach Tom Griffith said. “Overall, I was fairly happy with the girls effort. Toutle’s got three good guards, all seniors, they’ve been there and done that. You’ve kind of got to pick your poison.”
MWP (5-9, 2-8 league) travels to Kalama Friday, facing the Chinooks at 5:45 p.m. for a makeup C2BL game from earlier this week.
