High school basketball roundup: Tides roll over Yelm behind Born’s 15, Raquiza’s 14
SATURDAY (JAN. 15)
BOYS BASKETBALL
AUBURN 72, TAHOMA 47
The Trojans had a very productive second quarter against the Bears defensively. Buckling down on their defensive efforts, they stopped Tahoma on eight consecutive possessions.
That in turn led to Auburn outscoring them 20-7 in that quarter alone. It also helps when three players score in the double digit range. And defensively, holding only one Bear to double digits as well.
“We take a lot of pride in our defense. Tonight, we rebounded the ball really well and forced them to take tough shots,” said coach Ryan Hansen. “Good defense leads to good offense, and we shared the ball really well.”
The Trojans’ were led by seniors Trevon Blassingame with 25 points, Kaden Hansen scoring 20 and Dae’Kwon Watson adding another 15. The Bears’ senior Carson Talbert was the only one to break double digits with 20.
A: 14-20-19-19--72
T: 13-7-15-12--47
Top Scorers: (A) Trevon Blassingame 25, Kaden Hansen 20, Dae’Kwon Watson 15, (T) Carson Talbert 20
CURTIS 65, BELLARMINE 51
The Vikings’ defense was an early key in their win against the Lions as they made every shot Bellarmine attempt difficult. Pair that with a transition offense that led to big points and that gave the edge to Curtis.
When the Vikings ran more set plays, they found the bucket about 65% of the time. That allowed three players to finish the game with double-digit points on the night.
Sophomore Zoom Diallo led all scorers with 21 points on the night, while also earning six assists. Senior Trent Williams added 18 points and six rebounds, and junior Tyce Paulsen scored 12 with ten boards.
“We did a good job on defense. We made scoring hard and difficult for them,” said coach Tim Kelly. “At one point, my assistant told me that we were shooting about 65% from the field, so we were knocking down our shots… Overall I was pleased with our team effort and the guys played with intensity.”
The Lions’ top scorers were seniors Luke Shillito and Nic Ferencko, who scored 17 and 13 points respectively.
BOX SCORE:
C: 23-16-14-12--65
B: 14-8-11-18--51
Top Scorers: (C) Zoom Diallo 21 (6 assists), Trent Williams 18 (6 rebounds), Tyce Paulsen 12 points, 10 rebounds, (B) Luke Shillito 17, Nic Ferencko 13
SILAS 73, SPANAWAY LAKE 57
It was a much different experience for the Rams this time against the Sentinels. Rather than losing one of their starters right before the start of the game, they came in at full strength.
And it showed.
The Rams’ sophomore Tre Walker and junior Taveonte Webster each scored 18 points and helped the defensive unit lock down the game in the third quarter.
“Tonight, they came together on the court, they wanted to avenge that loss at the beginning of the season,” said coach Mike Cocke’. “They played really in the second half, we started the third up by 10 and were up by 20 near then end of the quarter.”
Although the Sentinels put up 21 in the fourth quarter, the Rams’ defense was all over them throughout the game.
SL: 12-15-9-21--57
S: 18-19-17-19--73
Top Scorers: (S) Trey Walker 18, Taveonte Webster 18
MORE SCORES:
FEDERAL WAY 97, DECATUR 26
GIRLS BASKETBALL
LINCOLN 49, BONNEY LAKE 41
The top two teams in the 3A Pierce County League squared off on Saturday and the Abes’ fast start kept them ahead against the Panthers.
Although junior Simani Thomas did not have a ton of points in the game, her scrappy defense helped keep Bonney Lake in check down the stretch of the game. The Abes are even seeing meaningful contributions from their youngest players on the team as well.
Freshmen Da’Janae Walker and Don’Aysia Hankins are throwing their bodies on opponents to stifle any offensive plays from developing. As Lincoln continues to play in the season, their defense is getting better in locking down the opposing team.
“Thomas is emerging as a leader, she is stepping outside her comfort zone,” said coach Jamila Jones. “The freshmen are out there, too, doing whatever they can, and helping us find our way.”
Leading the scoring for the Abes was sophomore Ciona Wells with 18 points, followed by junior Malani Warren with 15 as well.
The win puts some distance between the Abes and second-place Panthers in the PCL standings.
BOX SCORES:
L: 14-11-13-11--49
BL: 8-8-13-12--41
Top scorers: (L) Ciona Wells 18, Malani Warren 15
FRIDAY (JAN. 14)
BOYS BASKETBALL
SUMNER 59, PUYALLUP 33
Jake Jackson’s goal for his Sumner defense against neighboring Puyallup: allow 10 points a quarter.
Eight minutes in, Jackson’s goal seemed attainable. And by halftime, Sumner led by 20 after allowing just two points in the second quarter.
The Spartans (4-3, 4A SPSL) cruised to a 59-33 road win on Friday night.
Sumner’s duo of six-foot-five big men, Kaden Lewis and Connor Chalich, found 15 points each down low.
Ty Edwards, the Spartans’ six-foot-seven point guard, led the game with 17.
“It was really was just a great team win, because we were able to play 12 different guys,” Jackson said. “I think it could have been even larger of a win, but my goal was to play all 12. Seven bench guys played tonight. Two freshmen, five sophomores.
“I mean, that’s what it’s all about.”
BOX SCORE
S: 19-13-11-16--59
P: 10-2-7-14--33
MORE SCORES:
White River 76, Enumclaw 58
Kentwood 61, Kentridge 59
GIRLS BASKETBALL
WHITE RIVER 52, ENUMCLAW 45
In a crowded White River gymnasium, Morgan Greene’s 27 points pushed the Hornets’ in-league win streak to 107 games in a 52-45 win over Enumclaw on Friday night.
The last time White River lost a game in the 2A SPSL? You’d have to travel back to 2014 to find it.
“We’re very fortunate. There’s been quite a few tough ones like this,” White River coach Chris Gibson said. “We don’t really talk about it a lot as a ball club. We’re just trying to get better, and our number one goal is to win a league championship.”
A dozen of Greene’s 27 points came in the second quarter alone, and Brooke Mahler’s last-minute three-pointer in the first half stretched White River’s lead to four at the intermission.
White River’s Vivian Kingston notched a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Enumclaw’s top scorer, Charlee Torgison, scored 14.
“Defensively, we did a great job on the boards,” Gibson said. “We’re not really big. We’re pretty small, but we were tenacious on the boards. Enumclaw’s got some size, and I was really impressed defensively how hard my kids worked tonight.”
BOX SCORE
WR: 8-21-14-9--52
E: 11-14-12-8--45
Top Scorers: (WR) Morgan Greene 27, (E) Charlee Torgison 14
MORE SCORES:
North Thurston 46, Peninsula 40
THURSDAY (JAN. 13)
BOYS BASKETBALL
LINCOLN 53, SILAS 49
The Abes nabbed a road victory away from the Rams as both teams struggled to find any weak points in each other’s defense.
Sophomore center Wyatt Ulsh was the main focal point in the Abes’ offensive attack because of his presence in the post. Teammates like senior guard Parker Androy, junior guard Gabarri Johnson, and sophomore guard DJ Ervin would drive the lane to then kick it out to Ulsh for the easy buckets.
Ulsh would lead all scorers with 27 points.
“We executed a little more than they did. We stuck to our game plan and we played each other very physically,” said coach Ryan Rogers. “Both defenses played really well as it was difficult to make any shots, let alone get any to fall for you.”
The Rams’ leading scorer was sophomore guard Tre Walker with 17 points.
BOX SCORE
L: 20-13-6-14--53
S: 19-15-5-10--49
Top Scorers: (L) Wyatt Ulsh 27, (S) Trey Walker 17
GIRLS BASKETBALL
LINCOLN 62, SILAS 39
The Abes started off with a season-low of two points in the first quarter but rallied with 60 over the next three quarters to stay undefeated on the season.
Leading the scoring attack from Lincoln was junior Malani Warren, putting up 16 points. Behind her were sophomores De’Andrea Woods Singleton with 15 and Jaleigha Robinson 13 points respectively.
“Our effort was much better after the first quarter,” said coach Jamila Jones. “We finally started to wake up and put in a complete team effort. The energy off the bench was awesome.”
Freshman Don’Aysia Hankins held down the back end of the Abes’ efforts by collecting clutch rebounds down the stretch of the game. She helped communicate with the other players and brought infectious energy that helped seal the win for the Abes.
BOX SCORE
L: 2-21-20-19--62
S: 8-10-6-15--39
Top Scorers: Malani Warren 16 , Deandrea Woods-Singleton 15, Jaleigh Robinson 13
ANNIE WRIGHT 42, KLAHOWYA 31
In what coach Chris Spivey called an “all things considered win”, the Gators were led by a flawless night of shooting from the free-throw line by senior Jazmyn Stone.
Leading all scorers with 26 points, Stone was a perfect 14-for-14 from the line. Not bad for a team that had to deal with several games being canceled since late December.
“Klayhowya is a good team, we beat them earlier in the season though,” Spivey said. “They played more recently than we have. I’ll give them credit, they are a physical team and they played hard.”
Senior forward Bella Spencer had a steady game all around for the Gators, finishing her night with five rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Junior forwards Rae Wartelle added in seven rebounds and five steals, while Monee’ DuBose rebounded five times and had a block.
BOX SCORE
AW: 7-13-8-14--42
K: 8-8-6-9--31
Top Scorers: (AW) Stone 26 (14-14 from FT), (K) Sahara Sufi 13
WEDNESDAY (JAN. 12)
BOYS BASKETBALL
GIG HARBOR 60, YELM 35
Parker Born led the Tides with 15 points, and Gig Harbor used a big first quarter in a 60-35 win over Yelm on Wednesday night.
Yelm, who trailed by just 11 at the break, never found their offensive footing. And despite a second-quarter scoring hiccup from the Tides, they would bounce back and prove a comeback unattainable.
“We rebounded the ball really well,” Gig Harbor coach Billy Landram said. “They’re not tall, but they’re very quick and physical. At times... we had to make some adjustments.
“(We were) aware of where their shooters were at the whole time, and (tried) to stay in front of their guys and limit them to one shot every time down.”
Asher Raquiza scored 14 points for Gig Harbor, and Will Landram added 10. The Tides remain undefeated on the season, now at 11-0; they’re a perfect 6-0 in 3A SSC play.
BOX SCORE
GH: 21-6-22-11--60
Y: 7-9-9-10--35
FRANKLIN PIERCE 72, STEILACOOM 67
Steilacoom led after every period, except for the last.
Franklin Pierce’s John Barbee dropped a game-high 32 points, and the Cardinals shut down Steilacoom in the fourth quarter to earn a 72-67 win on Wednesday night.
Senior forward Travis Varner led the Sentinels with 15 points, and Steilacoom “came out guns blazing,” coach Eric Overgaard told The News Tribune.
But early foul trouble derailed their momentum. Junior point guard Tyshawn Cordon Jr. fouled out in the third quarter. Landon Petry suffered a similar fate in the fourth.
“(Franklin Pierce) went to the free throw line a lot,” Overgaard said. “Even though we were playing hard, we were fouling. It shook our momentum.”
Franklin Pierce’s win ended a two-game skid, and moved the Cardinals up to third place in the 2A SPSL. They’ll aim for another win next Tuesday in a home game against Fife.
BOX SCORE
FP: 14-24-15-19--72
S: 24-15-16-12--67
GIRLS BASKETBALL
SUMNER 88, CURTIS 20
After eight minutes, it was clear that Sumner’s one-two punch of twin sisters, Alyson and Catelyn Deaver, would be too much for the Vikings.
Alyson led all scorers with 22, and Catelyn added 14 in an 88-20 rout over Curtis on Wednesday night.
What fueled such a victorious margin? Intensity and selflessness, Sumner coach Katie Hyppa told The News Tribune after Wednesday night’s win. The Spartans dished out 25 assists, and nine players scored, including 15 from senior point guard Kaylee Cooper.
“Every play, no matter what the score was, no matter what variation of the lineup was in, (was) intense with every play on the on the defensive end,” Hyppa said, “and that’s something that we work on every single day.”
BOX SCORE
S: 32-23-17-16--88
C: 4-6-10-0--20
GIG HARBOR 70, YELM 44
There’s a new identity in Gig Harbor amid the new year. A slow process, coach Mike Guinasso admits, but a fun one: the girls are “buying in.”
Quick defensive shifts, selfless play on offense, and 11 Tides scorers led Guinasso’s team to a 70-44 win over Yelm on Wednesday.
For each player on his roster is a unique skill set.
“Taylor (Schwab) is an offense by herself,” Guinasso said of Schwab, a sophomore guard who led the team in scoring with 17 points. “And you’ve got Riley (Peschek) who, if you missed a shot, is always there to touch the ball.”
Peschek, a junior, added 14 points for the Tides, and Gig Harbor continued their undefeated stretch (6-0) in the 3A SSC.
BOX SCORE
GH: 22-12-23-13--70
Y: 9-6-9-20--44
This story was originally published January 12, 2022 at 9:55 PM.