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Montesano 49, Aberdeen 36
Montesano’s defense set a trap, and Aberdeen’s offense took the bait.
Monte used its three-quarter court trap defense to force Aberdeen into a slew of turnovers that turned into points in the Bulldogs’ 49-36 victory over the Bobcats on Friday at Sam Benn Gym in Aberdeen.
With both teams trading leads over the first few minutes of the game, Montesano employed its trap defense, and it was a trap Aberdeen couldn’t solve as Monte’s efforts produced multiple turnovers that turned into points at the opposite end. With the trap defense deployed, Monte (2-2 overall) turned a 9-7 lead with 53 seconds left in the first quarter into a 23-9 lead after Bulldogs guard Alex Mesquita scored on back-to-back breakaway layups in the final minute of the first half.
Compounding Aberdeen’s situation was an offense that struggled to score, going 4-for-27 from the field in the first half, including 0-for-13 from beyond the arc.
Aberdeen’s Ethan Morrill, left, passes out of the pressure from Montesano defender Braden Dohrmann during Friday’s game at Aberdeen High School. (Ryan Sparks | Grays Harbor News Group)
Aberdeen (0-3) cut the deficit to 26-14 early in the second half after senior Nick Farrer scored on a drive through the lane.
But led by its trap, Monte scored three straight buckets, capping off a 6-0 run when Trace Ridgway scored from the low block off an entry-pass from guard Braden Dohrmann, pushing Monte’s lead to 18 points.
“Every game we’ve been trying to put some pressure on people and make things happen for us,” Montesano head coach Doug Galloway said of his trap defense. “Tonight, our kids were working really hard and I thought they did a really nice job in it.”
Monte’s biggest lead of the game came at the 6:22 mark of the fourth quarter after Dohrmann buried a corner three, giving the Bulldogs a 41-20 lead.
Ridgway led all scorers with 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting.
Dohrmann added 10 points for the Bulldogs, who shot 18-of-48 (38%) as a team and 13-for-23 (57%) from the foul line.
Aberdeen’s Nick Farrer scores on a drive in the second half against Montesano on Friday at Aberdeen High School. Farrer scored 13 points to lead the Bobcats. (Ryan Sparks | Grays Harbor News Group)
Farrer led the Bobcats with 13 points, going 6-for-11 from the field.
Andrew Troeh added eight points for Aberdeen.
Aberdeen made 16-of-53 (30%) shots and hit 4-of-13 free throws (31%).
Montesano 11 12 11 15 — 49
Aberdeen 7 2 11 16 — 36
Top Players: Montesano — Ridgway (18 pts.); Dohrmann (10 pts.); Carter Olsen (5 pts.); Mesquita (4 pts.). Aberdeen — Farrer (13 pts.); Troeh (8 pts.); Angel Baltazar (5 pts.)
Hoquiam 57, Columbia-White Salmon 44
Down by two at the half, Hoquiam held Columbia-White Salmon to 17 points in the second half as the Grizzlies earned a 57-44 victory on Friday at Columbia High School.
Hoquiam (2-1) outpaced Columbia-White Salmon 34-17 in the second half after switching to a zone defense that CWS struggled with.
“They had a hard time due to our defense,” Hoquiam head coach Curtis Eccles said of the strategic adjustment. “It made for some tough shots for them and turned in to transition buckets.”
Dane McMillan led Hoquiam with 18 points. Cameron Bumstead scored 16 points and had six steals while Garrett Dick added 12 points for Hoquiam.
Hoquiam 13 10 13 21 — 57
Columbia-White Salmon 13 12 8 9 — 44
Top Players: Hoquiam — McMillan (18 pts.); Bumstead (16 pts., 6 stl.); Dick (12 pts.); Zach Elsos (7 reb.)
Elma 50, Charles Wright Academy 44
Elma got 17 points from Sawyer Witt and hit 11-of-22 3-pointers en route to a 50-44 victory over Charles Wright Academy on Friday in Elma.
The Eagles (3-1) clamped down on defense in the second half after getting into foul trouble earlier in the game.
Witt led all scorers with 17 points and hit on 4-of-10 threes.
Canon Seaberg scored 10 points for Elma, going 3-of-5 from downtown including hitting two big threes in the fourth quarter when the outcome was still in doubt. Seaberg added seven rebounds and three assists to his stat line.
Brady Johnston scored eight points, grabbed 12 rebounds and dished four assists for the Eagles.
Elma head coach Jeff Niemi noted the play of Justin Elliott, who came off the bench to play “great minutes” when the Eagles got into foul trouble.
Elma outrebounded Charles Wright 38-20, including a 15-9 advantage on the offensive glass.
Elma 5 12 18 15 — 50
Charles Wright 11 9 14 10 — 44
Top Players: Elma — Witt (17 pts.); Seaberg (10 pts., 7 reb., 3 asst.); Johnston (8 pts., 12 reb., 4 asst.)
Ocosta 56, North Beach 44
Ocosta’s defense forced 26 turnovers to earn a 56-44 come-from-behind victory on Friday in Westport.
Down 16-6 in the first quarter, Ocosta (3-1 overall, Pacific 2B) solidified its defense and took the lead by hitting 5-of-6 3-pointers over the final three minutes of the third quarter.
Cole Hatton led Ocosta with 18 points and a team-best 11 rebounds.
Kobe Rudolph scored 17 points for the Wildcats.
North Beach (1-3) was led by Josh Bighead, who tallied 21 points to lead all scorers.
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Taholah 58, Wishkah Valley 11
Taholah held Wishkah Valley scoreless in the first half in earning a 58-11 victory on Friday at Wishkah Valley High School.
Nakeah McCrory scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Taholah, which shot 24-for-50 from inside the 3-point line.
Natayla Russell added 11 points and Ashley Hidalgo scored nine for the Chitwhins.
“Overall, I thought that our girls did a great job playing as a team tonight,” Taholah head coach Fred Pope said, adding his players are new to playing with one another after graduating last season’s district championship winning squad. “We are still learning to play together. … We are making positive strides.”
Baylee Buchanan led Wishkah Valley with 11 points.
Taholah 14 18 12 14 — 58
Wishkah 0 0 3 8 — 11
Top Players: Taholah — McCrory (16 pts., 12 reb.); Russell (11 pts.); Hidalgo (9 pts.). Wishkah — Buchanan (11 pts.)
Montesano 55, Castle Rock 11
Montesano freshman McKynnlie Dalan scored 20 points to lead the Bulldogs to a 55-11 victory over Castle Rock on Friday at Castle Rock High School.
Zoe Hutchings added 13 points for Monte (2-4), which held a 45-4 lead at halftime and held the Rockets to six points through three quarters.
“We came out with a lot of energy and were able to hit some shots early,” Monte head coach Mark Mansfield said. “It was nice to see that we came out with confidence and took care of business.”
Rhiannon Sibbett led Castle Rock (4-2) with six points.
Montesano 24 21 8 2 — 55
Castle Rock 2 2 2 5 — 11
Top Players: Montesano — Dalan (20 pts.); Hutchings (13 pts.); Olivia Young (6 pts.); Jordan Karr (5 pts.); Maia Young (5 pts.). Castle Rock — Sibbett (6 pts.)
South Bend 30, Life Christian Academy 21
Facing a five-point deficit at halftime, South Bend used its defense to get back in the game and earn a 30-21 victory over Life Christian on Friday at South Bend High School.
Down 15-10 at the break, South Bend switched to a zone defense in an attempt to rein in Life Christian’s Jaelyn Turner, who torched the Indians for 13 points in the first half.
The strategy worked as Turner didn’t get a shot off over the final 16 minutes of the game.
South Bend (1-3 overall, Pacific 2B) held Life Christian (3-2, 3-1 Pacific 2B) to two points in the second half until a last-second buzzer-beater dropped for the Eagles.
“Our press came out strong and it was something we knew we could do,” South Bend head coach Randy Carlson said. “The aggressiveness is starting to show in these girls and they’re starting to believe in themselves. It’s fun to watch.”
Alise Rohr scored 10 points to lead South Bend.
Reece Williams and Zaira Medina added six points each for the Indians.
South Bend 4 6 14 16 — 30
Life Christian 4 11 1 5 — 21
Top Players: South Bend — Rohr (10 pts.); Williams (6 pts., 7 reb.); Medina (6 pts.). LCA — Turner (13 pts.)
Raymond 68, Pe Ell 19
Raymond jumped out to a 13-0 lead and never looked back in a 68-19 victory over Pe Ell on Friday at Raymond High School.
Kyra Gardner scored 16 points to lead Raymond (5-0, 4-0 Pacific 2B).
Hannah Miller and Callie McVey added nine points each for the Seagulls.
“Great balanced scoring tonight,” Raymond head coach Jason Koski said. “Great energy from all 10 players.”
Pe Ell 2 7 2 8 — 19
Raymond 20 12 22 16 — 68
Top Players: Raymond — Gardner (16 pts.); Miller (9 pts.); McVey (9 pts.); Izzy Silvernail (8 pts.)
Columbia-White Salmon 48, Hoquiam 37
Hoquiam’s early-season scoring woes continued as the Grizzlies fell 48-37 to Columbia-White Salmon on Friday in Hoquiam.
Sharaya Brydon scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds to lead the Grizzlies (0-3), which shot 17-for-67 from the field and 2-of-15 from the charity stripe.
“Grizzlies’ shooting is still in hibernation,” Hoquiam head coach Chad Allan said. “The Grizzlies are on a continual journey to improve the fundamental skills necessary to compete at this level. Once the fundamental basketball skills catch up to the great effort already exhibited we can start to work on increasing the decision making part of the game.”
Columbia-White Salmon 10 12 17 9 — 48
Hoquiam 4 8 12 13 — 37
Top Players: Hoquiam — Brydon (14 pts.); Sadie Carlyle (7 pts.). CWS — Maggie Bryan (18 pts.)
