WINLOCK — The Tigers brought out the birdcage in the third quarter and came away with a championship, knocking off the Cardinals 57-19 in Central 2B League play here on Thursday. Melissa Lee led Napavine with 22 points while Mollie Olson added another 14 points as the Tigers clinched the league title.
“We were in the game for the first half and were feeling pretty good,” Winlock coach Scott Ashmore said. “They ramped up the pressure in the third quarter and we got tired. We didn’t get a whole lot of looks at the basket.”
Napavine led 28-15 at halftime, but shutout the Cardinals in the third quarter, going on a 16-0 run. Winlock finished with just 4 points in the second half. Mika Hammond led the Cardinals with 6 points while Grace Hamre added 10 points to the Tigers’ efforts.
Napavine, with Toutle Lake losing to Wahkiakum on Thursday, finishes as the regular season Central 2B League champion at 18-2 overall and 17-1 in league play. The Tigers host Pacific 2B League No. 8-seed Chief Leschi on Tuesday in the first round of the District 4 2B Girls Basketball Tournament.
Winlock (5-15, 4-14 league) will play at P2BL champion Ilwaco on Tuesday.
Pirates Close Out Regular Season With 53-30 Win Over Indians
TOLEDO — The Lady Pirates may have began the regular season with a loss, but they closed out Central 2B League play with a 53-30 win over Toledo here on Thursday.
Adna stormed out to take the lead early on, never relinquishing it in a wire-to-wire performance. The Pirates outscored the Indians 20-3 in the first quarter behind 10 points from Kenya Lorton, who finished with a game-high 16.
"Adna really jumped out early and were very strong offensively," Toledo coach J.B. Ewers said. "Kenya got them off to a hot start and we couldn't put the ball in the basket. We dug ourselves a hole we couldn't get out of."
Anna Tauscher led with 9 points for Toledo, which struggled from the field and the free throw line, shooting 12 of 27 there.
Ewers credited Courtney Moore with an outstanding effort on both sides of the floor.
The night marked the last performance on George Murdoch Court for seniors Moore, Haley Tauscher, Josie Bowen and Yvette Arroyo.
Toledo ended the regular season with an 8-10 league record (9-11 overall) and, after a coin flip, took the No. 7 seed for District play. The Indians will face the No. 2 seed from the Pacific 2B League at Raymond on Tuesday in crossover action.
"We were playing really good team basketball coming in to this week," Ewers said. "We've just got to get back to putting the ball in the hole. We're just going to have to keep pace, scoring-wise."
Adna finished league play with a 13-5 record (14-6 overall) and the No. 4 seed. The Pirates will host the No. 5 team from the Pacific 2B League — which will be determined after a four-way tie is settled — on Tuesday.
Loggers Edge Vikings in League Finale
MOSSYROCK — Onalaska barely got away, but held on for a 42-38 girls hoops win over Mossyrock in the Vikings' final game of the season here in Central 2B League play on Thursday.
The key for Onalaska turned out to be the numerous second chance opportunities, as the Loggers brought down 15 offensive rebounds, compared to Mossyrock's three.
"That's the big difference," Mossyrock coach Darin Bullock said. "We were playing defense a lot."
Onalaska was led by Nicolle Duryea's 22 points while Colee Masciola chipped in 8 points and nine rebounds. Lainee Grose had 10 points for Mossyrock.
The Vikings bring their season to a close with a 1-17 C2BL record (2-18 overall). While the record isn't indicative, Bullock is certain that this team has gone through radical change from beginning to end.
"Clearly the record doesn't tell the whole story of the season for us," Bullock said. "From where we started with the group to where we finished, the girls got a lot better and never quit. Every kid believed in each other and in us coaches."
Mossyrock graduates just one from the squad, Clementine Schultz. Bullock described Schultz as the player who gives her best effort on a daily basis.
Onalaska (8-10 league, 9-11) won a coin toss with Toledo for the No. 6 seed. The Loggers will hit the road to face Life Christian in Tacoma on Tuesday in the first round of the District 4 2B Girls Basketball Tournament.
Robbins Scores 23 Points As MWP Downs Pe Ell
MORTON — Senior Christine Robbins gave the crowd a show in her last home game as a Timberwolf, posting 23 points and eight rebounds in a 50-34 C2BL win over Pe Ell here on Thursday. The win clinched fifth place for MWP in the final league standings.
“Christine had a big night for us and it was good to see have her last game at home like that,” MWP coach Tom Griffith said.
Hailey Compton led Pe Ell with 15 points, while Railey Smith added 11.
“We had a lots of energy and lots of intensity,” Griffith said. “That was working and we had eight Pe Ell turnovers in the first quarter but we were trading fouls for turnovers.”
Sharon Hazen added 7 points for the Timberwolves, as 10 different Morton-White Pass players scored. It was the final home game for Haley Kolb, Tatym Smathers, Hazen and Robbins.
Morton-White Pass (11-9, 9-9 league) heads into the District 4 2B Girls Basketball Tournament with a No. 5 seed and face Tacoma Baptist Tuesday in Tacoma.
