A third-quarter run helped the W.F. West girls basketball team pulled away from Woodland on Monday, when the Bearcats topped the Beavers 56-34 to open their season with a victory.
W.F. West led at halftime, but a 17-0 run in the third quarter helped them blow the game open.
“It was definitely a first game of the year type of game,” W.F. West coach Kyle Karnofski said. “We started to look like ourselves. It was a kickstart to what we can look like.”
In her first game since her freshman year, Joy Cushman led the Bearcats in scoring with 13 points. She missed all of her sophomore season with an injury.
“Almost got a little emotional after the game,” Karnofski said. “To see her having fun and playing, super proud of her. Getting her back meant a lot to our program and meant a lot to her.”
Dilyn Boeck added 11 points, and Kaitlyn Chloupek added 10.
“This is another year for her to move into that next role and be someone we can turn to,” Karnofski said of Chloupek.
Karnofski also commended Maddi McManus, who he said played really well, and Izzy Teeter and Hadley Hoffman, who helped propel W.F. West in that third quarter.
Overall, 13 girls played, and 10 different Bearcats scored.
“This team is going to be different,” Karnofski said. “It’s deep in a lot of ways. It’s a little tricky trying to figure it out. It’s kind of a luxury.”
W.F. West (1-0) will host Washougal in its home opener on Tuesday.
