W.F. West's Dirk Plakinger rises for a jumper during the Bearcats' 53-48 win over Mark Morris Monday night. (Rob Hilson/For The Chronicle)
W.F. West's Cade Haller scored a game-high 16 points against Mark Morris Friday night. (Rob Hilson/For The Chronicle)
W.F. West's Carter McCoy had a game-high 16 points and nine boards in a 53-48 victory over Mark Morris Monday night. (Rob Hilson/For The Chronicle)
LONGVIEW — Junior duo Carter McCoy and Cade Haller each pumped in a game-high 16 points and W.F. West gutted out a 53-48 nonleague win over Mark Morris at the Martin Luther King Basketball Tribute at Lower Columbia College Monday.
The Bearcats were coming off a 55-52 upset victory over Tumwater Friday, where they shattered the Thunderbirds 13-game win streak and handed them their second loss of the season.
They needed everything they had again to hold off a middle-of-the-pack 2A Greater St. Helens opponent in Mark Morris on Monday.
McCoy was a beast down low, pulling down a game-high nine rebounds, including three offensive, on 6 of 17 shooting. Kayden Kelly put together and all-around game, tallying seven points, four assists, three steals and three boards.
Senior Tyler Speck contributed 12 points on a scorching 8 of 12 shooting from the field, while collecting three rebounds.
W.F. West held the Monarchs to just 21 percent shooting from long range on 3 of 14 treys. The Monarchs were led by Ashton Harvey’s 15 points.
The Bearcats improved to 10-4, 3-1 and have now won four in a row. They travel to Black Hills (10-4, 4-0) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in a crucial matchup with the 2A Evergreen leader and the only remaining unbeaten team in league play.
Cardinals Exact Revenge on Comets
LONGVIEW — Winlock’s defense didn’t commit a single foul, while its offense drained 10 of 11 free throws to help the Cardinals to a 68-57 revenge victory over Naselle at the Martin Luther King Basketball Tribute at Lower Columbia College Monday.
Senior Bryce Cline led the offensive charge, firing in 21 points as the Cardinals won their fifth-consecutive game. Senior Noah Patching added 17 points, Coleson Richendollar had 12 and Nolan Swofford contributed 10.
Coincidentally, Winlock’s last loss came at the hands of Naselle (7-5) earlier this season, which helped motivate the Cardinals on Monday.
“It was something we circled immediately after that game,” Winlock coach Nick Bamer said.
Winlock’s 11 shots from the charity stripe proved the difference maker, as the Cardinals drained 91 percent of them while not committing a single foul on the other end of the court.
“We beat them at the free throw line,” Bamer said.
The Cardinals improve to 11-2, 4-0 in the Central 2B league, tied atop the conference with Toutle Lake (12-2, 4-0), the only other squad undefeated in league play. Winlock’s other nonleague loss was to a 10-4 Class 2A Black Hills team in the season opener.
“Naselle’s a pretty good team,” Bamer said. “Happy to get out of their with a win.”
Winlock travels to Rainier (9-6, 3-2) for a 7 p.m. matchup on Wednesday.
