Elma dug itself out of a big first-half deficit to beat Hoquiam as we review Wednesday’s prep sports action on the Harbor.
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BOYS PREP BASKETBALL
Elma 56, Hoquiam 46
After being down big early, Elma clawed its way back for a 56-46 win over Hoquiam on Wednesday at Hoquiam Square Garden.
The Eagles (9-4 overall, 2-1 1A Evergreen) trailed big in the first half as Hoquiam (4-9, 0-3) started the game red-hot.
Led by four 3-pointers by junior guard Joey Bozich, Hoquiam ended the first quarter up 23-7 as the Grizzlies hit 7-of-11 3-pointers in the first eight minutes of the game (64%).
PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Hoquiam’s guard Joey Bozich (4) shoots a three against Elma’s Tanner Moe (2) during the Grizzlies’ 56-46 loss on Wednesday at Hoquiam Square Garden.
Elma began to chip away at was once an 18-point Grizzlies lead early in the second quarter, trimming the deficit to 30-25 by halftime thanks in large part to seven points in the period by senior guard Traden Carter.
The Eagles eventually tied the game at 37-all in the third quarter and the two teams entered the fourth frame tied at 40-40.
The final quarter belonged to the Eagles.
Elma outscored Hoquiam 16-6 in the frame, led by seven points from junior forward Isaac McGaffey, to complete the comeback and earn a key 1A Evergreen League road victory.
“That’s called weathering the storm. My guys did a good job of not panicking and that’s the first key to the game. … For us not to panic, that was very crucial,” said Elma head coach Matt Ferrier, who added the key to the comeback was a “deliberate offense” and lock-down defensive efforts by Carter and McGaffey on Grizzlies’ high-scoring guards Bozich and Lincoln Niemi. “We played very well versus their zone. We took long possessions and eventually just ended up breaking them down and just chipped away at it. … We gave up 23 points in that first quarter and held them to 23 points the rest of the game. Outstanding job defensively.”
McGaffey and Carter scored 17 points apiece to lead the Eagles with senior point guard Theo Flores adding 13 points and four assists for Elma. McGaffey led the Eagles with 11 rebounds while Carter had nine.
PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Elma’s Isaac McGaffey (3) defends Hoquiam’s Lincoln Niemi (24) during the Eagles’ 56-46 victory on Wednesday in Hoquiam.
Elma shot 47% from the field on 22-of-47 shooting and went 9 of 17 from the free-throw line (53%).
Bozich led Hoquiam with 21 points – including six 3-pointers – to go along with a team-high five steals.
Forward Tage Dayton had nine points while Niemi scored eight points for the Grizzlies, which shot 31% from the floor on 17-of-54 shooting, 9 of 28 being from 3-point range.
“Just another tough quarter or two,” Hoquiam head coach Jeff Niemi said. “Very proud of the effort by the kids. Elma did a great job battling back and deserved to win the game.”
Elma takes on first-place Montesano at Montesano High School while Hoquiam plays at Rochester in 1A Evergreen League games scheduled for 6:45 p.m. Friday.
Elma 8 17 15 16 – 56
Hoquiam 23 7 10 6 – 46
Scoring: Elma – McGaffey 17, Carter 17, Flores 13, Moe 5, Webb 2, Myer 2. Hoquiam – Bozich 21, Dayton 9, Niemi 8, Maxfield 3, Byron 3.
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GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL
Raymond-South Bend 75, Chief Leschi 18
Raymond-South Bend’s offense had its highest point-total of the season with a 75-18 win over Chief Leschi on Wednesday at Raymond High School.
The Ravens (10-5, 2-1 2B Pacific) put any questions as to the outcome away early, scoring 29 points in the first quarter led by forwards Kassie Koski and Ava Baugher with 10 and nine points in the frame, respectively.
After the first eight minutes, RSB held a 24-point lead it would never relinquish.
The Ravens had four players score in double figures, with Koski leading the way with 22 points, including four 3-pointers.
Baugher had a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds while fellow post player Ava Pine-Isaksen scored 15 points and grabbed eight boards for RSB.
Sophomore guard Avalyn Stigall added 11 points, nine on three 3-pointers, for the Ravens.
”Good team win tonight. Kids really came out focused with great energy from the tip,” RSB head coach Jason Koski said. “We were able to generate some early transition baskets from our defense. … Getting four players in double figures was nice to see.”
RSB had 23 rebounds – 10 on the offensive glass – and limited its turnovers to nine in the game.
The Ravens play at Ilwaco in a 2B Pacific League game at 7 p.m. on Friday.
Chief Leschi 5 1 8 4 – 18
RSB 29 17 14 15 – 75
Scoring: CL – Walden 10, Yates 4, Dillon 2, Woodward 2. RSB – Koski 22, Baugher 18, Pine-Isaksen 15, Stigall 11, Kongbouakhay 4, Morley 3, San 2.
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BOYS PREP WRESTLING
W.F. West 46, Aberdeen 22
Aberdeen lost a dual meet to W.F. West 46-22 on Wednesday in Chehalis.
The Bobcats won five of the meet’s 14 head-to-head matchups.
Landon Hamblin (285 pounds), Ryder Lessard (113), Gibran Garcia (120) and Jaidon Williams (126) each won their matches while Alex Mendoza (132) earned a victory via forfeit.
The Bobcats are set to host Black Hills in a 2A Evergreen Conference dual meet at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
Results
106: Ryker Jensen (WFW) via fall over Noah Stotler (A)
113: Ryder Lessard (A) via major decision over Jayce Ayers (WFW)
120: Gibran Garcia (A) via decision over John Alexander (WFW)
126: Jaidon Williams (A) via decision over Gabe Alvarado (WFW)
132: Alex Mendoza (A) via forfeit
138 pounds: Liam Land (W.F. West) via fall over Gio Warness (Aberdeen)
144: Race Scalici (WFW) via technical fall over Glenny Black (A)
150: Beau Guyette (WFW) via decision over Adonis Hammonds (A)
157: Grayson Serl (WFW) via fall over Andrew Vannoy (A)
165: Andrew Snyder (WFW) via technical fall over Michael Hatton (A)
175: Kage Homan (WFW) via fall over Erick Cisneros-Cornejo (A)
190: Tucker Land (WFW) via fall over Arian Berbati (A)
215: Lakin Baker (WFW) via decision over Trevin Stewart (A)
285: Landon Hamblin (A) via fall over Chris Vallejo (WFW)
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Other games
Girls Prep Basketball
W.F. West 69, Aberdeen 25
