Hoquiam and Montesano ended 2024 with wins as we take a look at Twin Harbors boys prep basketball games from Saturday.

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BOYS PREP BASKETBALL

Hoquiam 57, Raymond-South Bend 44

Despite seeing an early lead slip away, Hoquiam held on for a 57-44 victory over Raymond-South Bend in the Raymond New Year’s Tournament on Saturday in South Bend.

The Grizzlies (4-6 overall) led by 12 after a big first quarter paced by 12 points from junior guard Joey Bozich, who buried three 3-pointers as Hoquiam led 18-6.

The Ravens (2-5) settled in to win the second frame, trimming four points off the Grizzlies’ lead thanks in large part to seven points from high-scoring senior guard Chris Quintana.

RSB would erase the Hoquiam lead in the third quarter as the Grizzlies scored just three points in the period – all via free throws – to trail the Ravens 37-35 entering the fourth period.

But the final eight minutes of the game belonged to Hoquiam standout sophomore guard Lincoln Niemi, who erupted for 14 of his team-high 24 points in the frame to lead the Grizzlies to victory, snapping a four-game losing streak in the process.

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Hoquiam guard Lincoln Niemi shows some emotion after making a bucket during a 57-44 win over Raymond-South Bend on Saturday at South Bend High School.

“I thought we did a great job taking care of the ball tonight,” said Grizzlies head coach Jeff Niemi, whose team had seven turnovers to 24 for Raymond-South Bend. “We’ve really talked a lot about that. It’s a key stat with our work-in-progress rebounding. … (RSB) was plus-7 rebounding on the offensive glass, but if we’re plus-17 on turnovers, we can live with that.”

Lincoln Niemi added six assists and a career-best seven steals to his stat line while Bozich totalled 22 points, five rebounds and a pair of steals for Hoquiam.

The Grizzlies went 18 of 63 from the field (28.6%) and got to the line 24 times, converting 15 free throws (62.5%).

RSB was led by Quintana, who scored 22 points in the game and led the Ravens on the boards with nine rebounds.

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Raymond-South Bend guard Chris Quintana scored a team-high 22 points in a 57-44 loss to Hoquiam in a Raymond New Year’s Tournament game on Saturday in South Bend.

The Ravens went 20 of 49 from the floor (40.8%) and made 5-of-9 free throws (55.6%).

“All of a sudden, we’re getting to the line,” said Coach Niemi, whose team went 9 of 16 from the foul line against Forks the previous day. “We made more than they attempted. That’s an old-school way to look at it but they say if you make more free throws than they attempt, typically you win.”

RSB outrebounded Hoquiam 44-32, with a 16-9 advantage in offensive rebounds.

“We came out pretty flat defensively and it carried over to it offense,” Ravens head coach Jon Schray said. “Through the game we were in foul trouble and gave them too many free-throw opportunities. I’m happy with our effort and the way we’re able to stay in the game. Hoquiam played well.”

Hoquiam faces Montesano in a 1A Evergreen League game at 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8.

The Ravens face Onalaska at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Onalaska High School.

Hoquiam 18 14 3 22 – 57

RSB 6 18 13 12 – 44

Scoring: Hoquiam – Niemi 24, Bozich 22, Maxfield 8, Byron 2, Abbott 1. RSB – Quintana 22, Ridderbush 9, Banker 6, Morris 5, Somero 4, Schlueter 3.

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Kalama 57, Elma 53 (OT)

Elma failed to capitalize on game-winning chances en route to a 57-53 overtime loss to Kalama on Saturday at Kalama High School.

The Eagles (6-3) led 38-34 at the end of three quarters of what Elma head coach Matt Ferrier said was an “incredibly competitive, incredibly physical game.”

The Chinooks (5-1) made up the deficit in the fourth quarter as the two teams were tied at 50-all at the end of regulation.

Elma had its chances in the extra period, but an inability to secure the ball in the final minute proved to be too much to overcome.

”Our focus has to turn to doing the little things,” Ferrier said. “We gave up two offensive rebounds off dead-ball free throws in the last minute of overtime that cost us a real chance to win.”

Another issue for the Eagles was a 6 for 16 performance from the free-throw line (37.5%) and hitting just 1-of-14 shot from beyond the arc (7%) compared to nine 3-pointers by Kalama.

”We shot ourselves in the foot over and over. You want to get them over the hump but when plays needed to be made, Kalama did it and we didn’t,” Ferrier said. “Plenty of opportunities to win the game in the fourth quarter and overtime, but we didn’t. We lost and we will own it. All part of the learning curve. … We did enough to win except put the ball through the hole when it mattered the most.”

Elma shot 41% from the field on 23-of-56 shooting, had 36 rebounds, 13 assists and 18 turnovers as a team.

Junior guard Isaac McGaffey had a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds to go along with four assists and five steals for Elma.

Senior Traden Carter had 17 points and seven rebounds for Elma.

The Eagles open 1A Evergreen League play against Rochester at 7 p.m. on Friday in Elma.

Elma 12 10 16 12 3 – 53

Kalama 16 6 12 16 7 – 57

Scoring: Elma – McGaffey 19, Carter 17, Flores 6, Myer 4, Moe 3, Schneider 2. Kalama – Koski 13, Schlangen 12, McBride 9, Hahn 9, Crawford 9, Sigfridson 3, Scott 2.

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PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Montesano’s Mason Fry (22) lays the ball up during a 65-55 win over Wahkiakum on Saturday at Adna High School.

Montesano 65, Wahkiakum 55

Montesano ended 2024 on a good note, defeating Wahkiakum 65-55 on Saturday at a holiday tournament in Adna.

The Bulldogs (3-6) won for the second time in three games thanks to double-digit scoring performances from three of its top players.

Sophomore post Caden Grubb led Monte with 19 points and 15 rebounds followed by junior guard Terek Gunter (18 points) and junior wing Mason Fry (18 pts.).

PHOTO BY HAILEY BLANCAS Montesano’s Caden Grub (23) drives to the hoop during a 65-55 win over Wahkiakum on Saturday at Adna High School.

The Bulldogs trailed 38-29 at halftime and 48-46 at the end of the third quarter, but rallied for 21 points in the fourth quarter on 6-of-10 shooting and hit 7-of-12 free throws.

Monte shot 24 of 49 from the field (49%) including 7 of 14 from beyond the arc (50%).

The Bulldogs hit 13-of-24 free throws in the game (54.2%) and committed 11 turnovers.

Monte opens the 1A Evergreen League portion of its schedule against Tenino at 5:15 p.m. on Thursday in Montesano.

Montesano 10 19 17 21 – 65

Wahkiakum 16 22 10 7 – 55

Scoring: Montesano – Ca. Grubb 19, Gunter 18, Fry 18, Wilson 7, Painter 3, Dowler 2. Wahkiakum – Liedz 28, Robinson 10, Carlson 7, Filkowski 6, Merz 2, Valke 2.