Big Second, Third Quarters Push Tigers Past Cardinals

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Napavine outscored Winlock 35-22 in the second and third quarters to earn a 50-44 Central 2B League victory in the Tigers’ league opener at home on Saturday.

Sophomore Grace Gall led the charge offensively for the Tigers, finishing with a team-high 19 points. Natalya Marcial added nine points and Makensee Taliaferro chipped in eight.

“Grace had a great game,” Napavine coach Shane Schutz said. 

Taliaferro knocked down two big 3-pointers near the end of the second quarter to give the Tigers, who snapped a two-game losing skid with the win, a 25-19 cushion heading into the half. 

“This was a big win for us tonight because it was our first league game,” Schutz said. 

Winlock, which has now played five games in the past seven days, was led by senior Addison Hall’s game-high 20 points, while Pe Ell’s Charlie Carper and Winlock's Kindyl Kelly each contributed nine points.

“She is such a special basketball player,” Schutz said of Hall. “Their kids played really hard as well. Two improved teams battled tonight and both will continue to grow from this game.”

Winlock falls to 4-3 overall and will host Class 1A Castle Rock at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in a non-league contest.

Napavine improves to 2-2 overall and 1-0 in league and heads to Pacific 2B League’s Ilwaco for a 6:30 p.m. matchup on Monday.