BOYS BASKETBALL
Mustangs 52, Elks 41
BROOKLYN — North River earned its first postseason berth in 10 years by downing Lake Quinault in a Coastal 1B League finale Saturday at Brooklyn.
The Mustangs (4-6 in league) qualified for district for the first time since the state-qualifying 2008 squad. They will travel to Naselle for a first-round match-up Tuesday.
Lake Quinault, which would have advanced with a win, finished its season with a 3-7 league record.
“It’s something to be proud of,” North River coach Sean Pierson said.
Luis Nieves scored 19 points and Forrest Carbaugh added 15 for the Mustangs, who led 31-20 at the half.
“We lost by 26 when we visited them and we lacked energy in that game,” Pierson recounted. “We did a full-court press to get that energy. In the first half, it worked more often than not.”
Freshman Jesus Mendoza topped Lake Quinault with 11 points.
Neither team shot well from the foul line, but Lake Quinault’s 4-of-20 performance from the stripe was particularly damaging.
Lake Quinault 10 10 10 11 — 41
North River 17 14 6 15 — 52
Lake Quinault (41) — Neeland 5, Espinoza 2, Cottrell 8, Langley 2, Mowitch 8, Mendoza 11, Escobar 5. FG — n/a. FT — 4-20.
North River (52) — Schreck 7, J. Nieves 5, J. White, Holmes, L. Nieves 19, K. Nieves, Carbaugh 15, Kanahele 2, Soimis 4. FG — n/a. FT — 10-22.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Red Devils 53, Chitwhins 42
TAHOLAH — Neah Bay built up a 19-point halftime lead and held off Taholah in a non-league regular-season finale on Saturday at Taholah.
The Red Devils swept a three-game series from the Chitwhins (14-4) this season. But Saturday’s outcome represented a major improvement for Taholah from a 40-point loss at Neah Bay last month.
“They won the first half; we won the second half. Unfortunately, they scored more points in their half,” Taholah coach Karl Braden said. “I’m very proud of my team. We didn’t quit and came back.”
Nettie Mail scored 18 points and Kayleah McCrory 11 for the Chitwhins.
Taholah hosts State Deaf in the opening round of the district 1B tournament Wednesday.
Neah Bay 19 16 12 6 — 53
Taholah 9 7 14 12 — 42
Neah Bay (53) — McCauley 11, Svec 10, Moss 12, Greene 2, C. Swan 9, Yallop 1, P. Swan 6, McCarty-Corpuz 2, Pillatti, Woodruff, Lovic, Della. FG — n/a. FT — n/a.
Taholah (42) — Curleybear 5, N. McCrory 6, K. McCrory 11, Mail 18, Grover 2, Ralston, James, Vessey, Randall, Ancheta, Billie, Hidalgo, Curley-Sailto. FG — 14-62 (.226). FT — 7-12.
Elks 45, Mustangs 27
BROOKLYN — Christin Saavedra scored 17 points as Lake Quinault closed out its Coastal 1B League season by beating North River on Saturday.
Without leading scorer Jayhla Tatro, the Elks nevertheless led most of the way and clinched the victory by outscoring the Mustangs 13-3 in the fourth quarter.
“I think we did a pretty darned good job of hanging with them for three quarters,” North River coach Sean Pierson said. “We ran out of steam. They’re a well-polished team.”
Lake Quinault wound up 6-4 in league and will travel to Naselle for a first-round district matchup Wednesday.
Leanna White scored 11 points and Ruby Gumaelius 10 for North River, 0-10 in league.
Lake Quinault 9 12 11 13 — 45
North River 6 7 11 3 — 27
Lake Quinault (45) — Richards 5, Saavedra 17, Spigler-Mercado 4, Neeland 9, Guadarama 10, Fowler. FG — n/a. FT — 6-11.
North River (27) — Holmes 2, R. Gumaelius 10, L. White 11, Stone 2, E. Gumaelius 2, Churape. FG — n/a. FT — 3-8.
