With Hoquiam the unwilling subject, Elma’s girls put on a clinic of how to transform turnovers into points.

Cashing in heavily on 34 Grizzly miscues, the Eagles raced to a 78-23 triumph in an Evergreen 1A League girls basketball game Tuesday at Hoquiam Square Garden.

Points off turnovers weren’t an official statistic in this one, but Elma’s total in that category must have approached 50.

Although they wound up shooting 52 percent from the field, the Eagles (5-1, 17-1) didn’t produce much with their half-court offense until the second half. Even without that element, however, they still owned a 42-15 halftime lead.

Harassing Hoquiam with both its press and an active half-court zone, the Eagles forced 19 turnovers in the first half alone. They turned the vast majority of those into transition baskets at the other end.

“We made some adjustments on our press in the last week,” Elma coach Lisa Johnson explained. “And we also worked on keeping our tempo up. That’s our style of play. When we’re running, we’re pretty hard to defend.”

The Eagles also demonstrated another trademark — exceptionally balanced scoring.

Elma’s top two scorers were reserves. Six-foot junior Brooke Sutherby came off the bench to tally 18 points and drew Coach Johnson’s praise for her ability to finish at the rim. Sophomore wing Jillian Bieker collected 12 points, six assists and five steals in a fine all-around performance.

Three other Eagles scored nine points each. Kayli Johnson also delivered six assists.

“It was a beautiful game of passing and finishing,” Coach Johnson concluded.

Aside from a short stretch near the end of the first quarter, Hoquiam (3-3, 9-9) never got untracked. The Grizzlies wound up with only six field goals.

“We stepped on a hornet’s nest, that’s about all I can say,” HHS coach Mark Maxfield. “Elma played with great intensity, as opposed to us. We were a step slow and they’re a very fine team.”

This was no contest from the beginning. With Kali Rambo and Molly Johnston scoring four points apiece, the Eagles needed less than five minutes to reel off the game’s opening 13 points.

The Grizzlies briefly reduced the margin to single digits when Maddie German’s fast-break layin made it 15-6 after one quarter. But Sutherby, Bieker, Johnson, Quin Mikel and Alle Bol combined to score 17 successive points midway through the second period for a 38-10 bulge.

Rambo’s 3-point basket at the 3:06 mark of the third quarter triggered the 40-point running clock mercy rule. Reserves from both sides played exclusively in the fourth quarter.

Maya Jump topped Hoquiam with seven points.

Jalyn Sackrider led Elma rebounders with 11.

The Eagles will attempt to avenge their only loss when they host rival Montesano on Thursday. Hoquiam makes the long trek to Forks on Friday.

Elma 15 27 21 15 — 78

Hoquiam 6 9 7 1 — 23

Elma (78) — Sackrider 7, Johnson 9, Mikel 9, Johnston 6, Rambo 9, Sutherby 18, Bieker 12, Burgher, Olson 5, Bol 3. FG — 31-60 (.517). FT — 13-22.

Hoquiam (23) — Jade Cox 6, Jump 7, Krohn 2, Vonhof 1, German 4, Carlyle, Brydon, Bogdanovich, Jordan Cox 2, Strom 1. FG — 6-40 (.150). FT – 11-19.

JV — Hoquiam 35, Elma 32. Tauni Hilliard go-ahead 3-point basket.

Elma sophomore wing Jillian Bieker collected 12 points, six assists and five steals. (Photo by Patti Reynvaan)