“We started the game slow, having played this third in four days,” Willapa Valley HS Head Girls’ Basketball Coach Matt Bannish told the Herald. “Scoring 70 points is encouraging and it has probably been a long time since a Valley girls team provided that kind of offense. I liked the way we ran the court. We out-rebounded them 42 to 24, which is why we were able to get the fast breaks. We had four players in double figures, which was also encouraging.
”It was nice to see Alicia Smaciarz get into her shooting groove tonight.
Alicia Smaciarz (14 pts), Lauren Friese (12 pts) and Brooke Harden (11 pts) also turned solid games on offense. Lauren Friese had a double-double with 10 rebounds. Harden and Sydney Wilkeson both collected 7 boards.
Willapa Valley 42, Adna 40
Karli Friese fired in 15 points to lead Valley to a 42-40 road victory over Adna last Thursday. Lauren Friese netted 9 points and Mackenzie Trotter added 8.
“This was a fun and exciting game,” Bannish told the Herald. “It was a game we could have won by 10 points and a game we could have easily lost with Adna taking their second lead of the game with 28 seconds to go. I was happy we kept our heads in the game and did what we needed to do to pull out the game.
“Lauren Friese hit two foul shots with 16 seconds to go to give us a 1-point lead, they tied with 8 seconds with a free throw at 40-40,” Bannish reported. “Karli Friese hit a baseline runner as time expired.”
Brooke Harden pulled down 9 boards and blocked 6 shots and Lauren Friese had 8 rebounds and 3 steals.
“Mackenzie Trotter had a good solid game,” Bannish added.
Montesano 58, Valley 31
Valley opened with a 58-31 loss at Montesano to open the season last Tuesday (Dec. 3). Karli Friese pumped in 16 points. Friese was 4 of 5 from 3-point land. Valley trailed 14-10 after one quarter but was outscored 44-21 the remainder of the game.
“It was our first game of the season and we ran into a team that played very, very well for their first game and being young,” Bannish told the Herald. “They had both inside post play and outside shootings. In trying double their post player, it opened up the perimeter, in which they shot 7 for 9 in three pointers. We need to get better in our offense execution and have to be able to score more than 34 points in a game. I thought our effort was there. Karli Friese had a good all around game. We got pounded on the offensive boards.”
The Vikes played at Lake Quinault last night, visit Naselle Friday and go to Ocosta Tuesday.
Wahkiakum 60 South Bend 31
South Bend opened the season with a 60-31 loss at Wahkiakum last Wednesday in Cathlamet. The Lady Indians fell behind early (18-9) and never challenged the Mules.
“They’re just better,” said SBHS head coach Gary Wilson said. “We have some growing to do but this team will definitely improve as the season progresses.
Sierra Cearns scored 14 and Rielly Myers had 10 pts and 9 rebounds.
South Bend shot a dismal 21 percent from the floor on 10 of 48.
Lady Indians 57 Hoquiam 44
Host South Bend toppled Hoquiam 57-44 Saturday night at Koplitz Fieldhouse. ReillyMyers paced South Bend with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Emily Sanchez and Katlyn Sawyer added 13 points and nine rebounds apiece.
The Tribe crushed Hoquiam on the boards 50-33 and held the Grizzlies to 19 of 76 shooting. Hoquiam was worse at the foul line – going only 4 of 19 from the foul line.
“I was real excited with the way the kids played,” Wilson said. “They set their goals and they achieved them.”
The Lady Indians shot 51 percent from the field on 22 of 43. Sierra Cearns netted 8 points.
South Bend hosted Montesano last night, travels to Rochester tonight and hosts Northwest Christian Tuesday.
Napavine 41, Lady Seagulls 31
Napavine jumped out to a 9-1 lead and then held on to defeat Raymond 41-31 in last Thursday at Seagull Gym. Hailee Williams paced the Lady Seagulls with 13 points.
Raymond fought back and only trailed 19-13 at halftime.
Aiysha Garcia had 8 points and 5 boards for RHS.
“It was a good game to start the season with,” RHS coach Jon Schray told the Herald. “We saw some things that we need to improve on. We saw some things that we did very well. We were right in it thanks to our defense through out the majority of the game, but a few mistakes led to them making a run that we couldn't recover from.
Raymond hosted Rainier last night, visits Tenino tomorrow, hosts Ocosta Saturday and Montesano visits Seagull Gym Monday.