By GEORGE KUNKE
Willapa Valley opened the cage season with a big road win at Napavine, defeating the Tigers 55-49 last Wednesday. Kyler Oblad fired in 14 points and Matt Konigsberger popped in 13, took down 11 rebounds and handed out 4 assists.
“I was really proud of our effort – especially after finding ourselves down 32-15 in the second quarter,” WVHS Head Boys Basketball Coach John Peterson told the Herald.
“At halftime I talked to them about just slowing down and not trying to do too much, and the kids really responded,” Peterson said.
“We had a really good third quarter and held them to four points,” Peterson said. “Kyler Oblad hit 4 of 6 from the 3-point stripe and that got us back into it.”
“Our kids played a really good athletic looking team on their court, and even though we didn’t shoot particularly well, we attacked the rim and they understood what we were trying to do,” Peterson said. “Napavine was hurting us with their cutters. We wanted to play good on the ball.”
Tacoma Baptist 70, Vikings 63
The Vikings lost their home opener against a sharp-shooting Tacoma Baptist team, 70-63 last Friday.
“It was one of those games where I thought we did a lot things well, even though we lost,” Peterson said. “Sometimes you gotta get beat to learn a lesson.
“Brandon Stoehr (33 pts) shot the lights out,” Peterson said. “Tacoma Baptist is a very good basketball team with three really outstanding guards. They shot really well – especially in the first two quarters.
The Vikes found themselves down 54-40 after three quarters, and despite being in foul trouble, switched to a press, which got them back into the game.
“We were down 16 (pts) and got to within 3 at 66-63 with 45 seconds to go,” Peterson said. “They hit two free throws and we had a trey go in and out.”
“I’m really proud of the way the kids played in our first two games,” Peterson said. “They never quit and they worked really hard.”
“Matt Konigsberger was outstanding with 13 points, 15 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals,” Peterson noted.
“(Anthony) Sagen (10 pts) had his moments did an excellent job on the press,” Peterson said. “Stephen Camenzind (10 pts, 12 rebs) had a double-double and had 5 blocks and did a good job defensively. Drew Pearson was steady as a rock.”
Oblad scored 13 points, and Konigsberger also blocked 3 shots.
Willapa Valley took on Adna Monday night at home and traveled to Lake Quinault last night and goes to Naselle Friday.
“Naselle is very well coached,” Peterson said. “They play a very tough man-to-man defense and they don’t beat themselves.”