Willapa Valley and Ocosta opened up their 1B State Tournament play as we review Friday’s boys prep basketball games on the Harbor.

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BOYS PREP BASKETBALL

Willapa Valley 59, Tulalip Heritage 51

Willapa Valley advanced to the 1B State quarterfinals with a 59-51 victory over Tulalip Heritage in a state-tournament game on Friday at W.F. West High School.

The Vikings (22-2 overall) trailed 31-29 at halftime after struggling against the Hawks (20-4) and their fast-break, transition offense.

“This was a fast-paced game from the jump,” Valley head coach Derek Rask said. “Tulalip’s guards are quick and run the floor exceptionally well. We struggled to get back on defense in the first half and their transition offense was hurting us.”

The Vikings rallied in the third quarter by making the necessary halftime adjustments, which required a better defensive performance and improved rebounding, according to Rask.

”We adjusted at halftime and our overall defensive play was solid,” he said. “I thought we rebounded well in the second half and we limited their second-chance opportunities.”

Junior guard Blane King led the Vikings with 20 points and seven rebounds.

“His individual defense, guarding several different situations in the half-court, was excellent,” Rask said of King.

Senior guard Nathan Fluke added 13 points and seven rebounds while junior center J.B. Russell grabbed 10 boards for Valley.

“I’m thrilled for our kids. They are excited and ready for the state tournament in Spokane and this win was a great way to start,” Rask said. “This was a total team effort, and everyone contributed in this win.”

With the win, Valley advances to the quarterfinal round of the 1B State Tournament.

The No. 3 Vikings will face the winner of No. 12 Garfield-Palouse versus No. 5 Neah Bay at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday at the Spokane Arena.

Willapa Valley 19 10 14 16 – 59

Tulalip Heritage 20 11 9 11 – 51

Scoring: WV – King 20, Fluke 13, Lusk 8, Russell 8, Aust 6, Ritzman 4.

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Almira-Coulee-Hartline CH 69, Ocosta 34

Ocosta struggled to keep up with the state’s No. 1 seed with a 69-34 loss to Almira-Coulee-Hartline in a 1B State Tournament second-round game on Friday at Wenatchee High School.

The No. 8 Wildcats (16-8) stayed close with the top-seeded Warriors (23-1) for a quarter-and-a-half before an ACH run halfway through the second frame turned a 3-point lead into 13 by halftime.

According to Wildcats head coach Jason Quinby, turnovers proved costly for his team in the first half.

“Turnovers were our main undoing as they had probably 12 points off of our turnovers,” he said. “Our half-court defense was pretty solid in the first half, but every time we turned the ball over, it was an instant two points the other way.”

The Warriors put the game away with a 20-6 third period.

“In the third quarter, our defense started to crack while ACH started to tighten up,” Quinby said. “And that was pretty much the game at that point.”

Freshman post Sonny Beard had a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds while senior guard Kayden Turner also scored 11 points for the Wildcats.

Ocosta will face the winner of No. 17 Sound Christian versus No. 9 Wellpinit in the state’s Round of 12 at 9 p.m. on Wednesday at the Spokane Arena.

Ocosta 10 7 6 11 – 34

ACH 14 16 20 19 – 69

Scoring: Ocosta – Beard 11, Turner 11, Welch 4, Solis 4, Prigmore 4. ACH – Rooker 27, M. Grindy 12, Correia 10, Pitts 6, N. Grindy 6, Roberts 3, Schmauder 3, Pitts 2.