ROCHESTER — For the second postseason game in a row, the Napavine Tigers ran away with a dominant win. And once again, it was Hayden Kaut leading the way.
“(Napavine coach Shane) Schutz kind of gives me a talk before every playoff game, (saying) that we need a leader,” Kaut said. “Last year, I feel like our leader was Keira O’Neill. He told me I need to step up into her role. Because once a person sparks energy, then everyone else gets going.”
Kaut and the Tigers got going early and never looked back in their 63-20 win over Forks on Tuesday in Rochester, one that puts them in the district semifinals and one win away from a trip back to the state tournament.
Kaut was the star on both sides of the ball, scoring 17 points, grabbing six rebounds, and adding three assists, and she also had six steals and six blocks defensively.
“She’s the one who is passionate about basketball, and it spreads to the entire team,” Schutz said. “That’s what good players do. They inspire others by how they perform. She’s done that the last couple weeks.”
Eight of her points came in the final minute of the first quarter, which was in the midst of a 29-0 Napavine run.
Ava Ondong came off the bench to spark the run, scoring five points in quick succession while also grabbing a steal and blocking a shot, and Jessie McCoy drained a three early in the second to help keep the momentum going after the quarter break. By the time the Spartans got back on the board, they trailed by 34.
To make things easier for the Tigers, their defense was at its best. They forced 33 turnovers, including 20 steals, scoring 38 points off of those turnovers.
“Our team is really good once we get going,” Kaut said. “In our press, we cause a lot of havoc.”
Schutz agreed, saying he was pleased to see them set the tone in another postseason win.
“Our defense leads to our offense,” Schutz said. “That’s Napavine basketball. We are gonna force you to take care of the basketball, and if you don’t, hopefully it can lead us to some easy baskets.”
Ondong finished with six four rebounds, three steals, and a block, while Hannah Fay scored 10 points and added a pair of rebounds. Taylen Evander and Jessie McCoy both scored nine, and Evander added five steals and four assists.
Nicholle Valentine scored five points, and Alexis Schutz scored three and came away with five rebounds. Grace Pancake and Jayla Engkraf added two points apiece.
Schutz was happy that some of the younger Tigers were able to get some experience late, saying it was massive for them to get time in a district playoff environment.
“They’re the future,” Schutz said. “I thought they came in and played really well.”
Napavine (17-5) is now just one win away from a trip to state, and the Tigers will have to go through a familiar opponent to get there. Napavine will face Adna in a 2B District 4 Semifinal next Tuesday, Feb. 18 in Kelso.
“We’re on a mission,” Schutz said. “We wanted to get to the semifinal game and we knew we had to go through two opponents to get there. We wanted another opportunity to play Adna again.”
In the first meeting of the season, on Jan. 15, Adna topped Napavine 32-29.
“It’s gonna be a fun atmosphere,” Schutz said. “They're two programs that want to be successful, so you’re gonna get athletes that put in the best effort in the prep and in the game. Both teams are just gonna make us better. The rivalry is real, but it’s also a healthy rivalry.”
“We’re pumped,” Kaut said. “I think everyone is ready to get after it.”
