NASELLE — It took everything the Timberwolves had here Saturday night but they were ultimately able to eke out a gut-check 52-51 win over the Comets in a non-league boys basketball tilt.
Following a big win over Napavine on Friday night Morton-White Pass coach Chad Cramer knew his team was ripe for a let down in a contest of no consequence versus a smaller 1B opponent.
“I was really proud of our team as whole, this was very much a trap game for us. After an emotional home, overtime win we travel on a bus two and a half hours to play an opponent we’ve never played and it was a very difficult place to play,” said Cramer.
The Comets are having a successful season in their own right and they came out on a hot streak in order to outscore MWP 16-12 in the first quarter. Try as they might the T-Wolves struggled to gain any ground on Naselle and trailed by ten points in the fourth quarter.
Cramer said his team’s play was a little bit sloppy and they struggled to adjust to the Comets’ defensive scheme. He credited a renewed defensive effort and commitment to cleaning the glass for allowing his team to battle back to take a late lead. From there he said they had just enough fight left to hold on for the road win.
MWP was able to best the Comets 37-22 in the rebounding battle. Dylan Richards led the T-Wolves with a game-high 17 points and Kaleb Rashoff added 13 points.
“We held them to 34 percent shooting and we had 57 percent, which was nice,” said Cramer, who added that his team had a hard time getting fouls called as they shot just four free throws on the night.
“We struggled getting to the free throw line a bit, but I thought our guards did a good job battling and staying together through adversity,” said Cramer. “(We) got the ball down in the low post and it was very successful. I’m proud of our team battling in a condition to where they had every excuse to not get the win.”
Hayden Young chipped in nine points for MWP while Gavyn Higdon scored eight points.
Morton-White Pass (9-5, 2-3 league) will play at Toutle Lake on Wednesday in a Central 2B League game.
Toledo Holds Off Kalama
TOLEDO — Toledo’s Hayden Farbo made two late free throws to help the Indians edge Kalama 59-54 in a non-league boys basketball game here on Saturday.
Farbo scored 16 points and converted five of nine field goal attempts. Andreas Malunat also poured in 16 points. Fano Arceo-Hansen recorded 14 points and Westin Wallace didn’t record a point, but grabbed 10 rebounds to go along with five assists and four blocks.
Max Ross led the Chinooks with 13 points and Jackson Esary added 12 points.
After Toledo built a 13-point lead midway through the third quarter, the Chinooks slowly climbed back into the game and Esary hit a 3-pointer and was fouled for a four point play to tie the game with less than two minutes remaining. Malunat answered with a three to take the lead back for Toledo and four late Kalama turnovers allowed Farbo to sink two late free throws to put the game on ice.
“It felt like we were in control most of the game. They didn’t go away and they’re pretty deep,” Toledo coach Grady Fallon said. “Props to those guys that aren’t getting their name in the paper who are all putting in the work. I’m pleased with our team and things are going well with guys that have been there.”
Fallon also noted the team shared the basketball well on Saturday, recording 18 assists on 23 made field goals.
Toledo (13-2, 5-0) hosts Adna on Friday in a Central 2B League game.
