KELSO — An offensive drought to start the game put Hoquiam in a hole it could not climb out of on Tuesday.
Facing third-ranked Castle Rock in a District IV 1A girls basketball semifinal game, the Grizzlies couldn’t get an offensive rhythm going to match their defensive efforts en route to a 46-32 loss at Kelso High School.
On Thursday, Hoquiam (14-8) will take on Evergreen 1A rival Rochester in a winner-to-regionals, loser-out contest at Chehalis.
“Their physical play on defense kept us away from the baskets and shots didn’t drop,” HHS head coach Chad Allan said. “It was just one of those things. We just couldn’t get our offense going. They’re physical and we didn’t match that.
“I’m happy with our defense,” Allan added. “To hold a team like that to 46 points, that’s not bad. We just need to come up with some offense to match.”
Castle Rock’s three offensive leaders came through against Hoquiam — a game-high 16 points from Maddi Seidl, 14 points from Tierney Uhlenkott and 10 points from Macee Utecht.
Brandi Creviston led the Grizzlies with nine points, all of them coming in the fourth quarter. Chelsy Stewart added seven rebounds and Ellie Quercia four steals for Hoquiam.
“I appreciate how hard the girls are working,” Allan said. “Brandi came out in the fourth and tried to fight back. We just couldn’t get a handle on things.”
CR 15 12 14 5 — 46 Hoq 3 8 6 15 — 32
Castle Rock (46) — M. Seidl 16, Dahl 4, N. Seidl 2, Utecht 10, Uhlenkott 14, Desarmo, Kerbaugh, Moore, Miller. FG — 17-50.(.340).FT — 9-13.
Hoquiam (32) — Quercia 5, Mode 5, Rose 4, Creviston 9, Stewart 4, Johnson 2, Bradley 2, Doyle 2, K. Stewart, Madison, Dhooghe, Parker. FG — 11-55 (.200). FT — 9-17.
