BOYS PREP BASKETBALL
Black Hills 72, Montesano 39
Montesano kept within striking distance for much of Tuesday’s home contest against Black Hills, but the Bulldogs couldn’t cool the Wolves’ hot shooting late in the game, falling to Black Hills 72-39.
Monte (1-2 overall) kept the game close against Black Hills (1-2) for three-and-a-half quarters. Behind Carter Olsen’s team-high 12 points and a team-leading nine rebounds by Trace Ridgway, the Bulldogs were able to stay with the 2A Wolves. Monte trailed by just a bucket at the end of the first quarter and the Wolves from a double-digit in the first half.
But Black Hills shooters got hot at the end of the third quarter and did’t cool down until they were on the bus ride home. As a team, the Wolves hit five 3-pointers —most of them from NBA range —in both the third and fourth quarters and outscored Monte 31-11 over the final 12 minutes of the game.
“We were playing them tough and working them hard. We battled with them back-and-forth for a long time,” Monte head coach Doug Galloway said. “You’ve got to hand it to them. They’re a good basketball team. They shot well and kind of put us away in the fourth quarter.”
Monte will face Aberdeen at 7 p.m. on Friday at Aberdeen High School.
Black Hills 13 9 19 31 — 72
Montesano 11 3 14 11 — 39
Top Players: Montesano — Olsen (12 pts.); Ridgway (9 reb.); Wes Bjornsgard (6 reb.)
Elma 77, Rochester 46
Elma used another solid defensive performance to earn a 77-46 victory over Rochester on Tuesday at Elma High School.
Elma (2-1) led by 13 points at the end of the first quarter and never looked back as the Eagles had four players score in double figures and held a distinct rebounding advantage.
Sawyer Witt scored 16 points to lead the way for Elma. Witt went 4-for-8 from beyond the ard and scored 12 points in the second quarter.
Brady Johnston and Raiden Aho each scored 14 points for the Eagles, with Johnston adding 13 rebounds in a double-double performance.
Nick Church added 12 points six rebound and five assists for Elma.
As a team, Elma had 18 assists on the evening and held Rochester’s offense to just 5-of-17 shooting in the paint.
Elma also held a 41-21 rebounding advantage, a state head coach Jason Niemi said was key to the Eagles victory.
“Rebounding is kind of a big part of my thing and we have a bunch of guys that can rebound,” he said. “Johnston, (Cobey) Moore, Church … those guys are always around the glass and we’re doing a great job of getting to the the offensive and defensive boards.”
Elma takes on Charles Wright Academy at 7 p.m. on Friday at Elma High School.
Rochester 6 20 9 11 — 46
Elma 19 19 17 22 — 77
Top Players: Elma — Witt (16 pts); Johnston (14 pts., 13 reb.); Aho (14 pts.); Church (12 pts.)
Northwest Christian 54, Ocosta 51
Ocosta nearly dug out of an 18-point deficit, but missed opportunities late in the game led to the Wildcats’ 54-51 loss to Northwest Christian on Tuesday in Lacey.
Ocosta struggled on offense, shooting just 24% from inside the 3-point line.
A poor-shooting second quarter led to Ocosta (2-1, 2-1 Pacific 2B) being outscored 19-8 in the frame and facing an 18-point deficit, the Wildcats, led by Kobe Rudolph’s team-high 22 points, rallied to climb back into the game.
But Ocosta couldn’t complete the comeback, as missed shots and turnovers down the stretch prevented the Wildcats from tying the game.
“I was very proud of the effort in the second half, particularly in the fourth quarter,” Ocosta head coach Jason Quinby said. “We battled to until the very end.”
Cole Hatton had 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists for Ocosta.
The Wildcats host North Beach at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Ocosta 17 8 7 19 — 51
Northwest Chr. 15 19 8 12 — 54
Top Players: Ocosta — Rudolph (22 pts.); Hatton (10 pts., 8 reb., 5 asst.); Evan Waara (7 pts.); Cesar Martinez (6 pts., 7 reb.)
Other scores
RA Long 57, Aberdeen 46
Life Christian 75, Pe Ell 40
