MONTESANO — Perhaps because there is still business ahead, Montesano’s boys reacted to a milestone accomplishment in decisive but relatively restrained fashion.
Taking command late in the first quarter, the Bulldogs ended a 38-year league championship drought with a 70-36 rout of Forks in an Evergreen 1A League boys basketball game Tuesday night at Bo Griffith Memorial Gym.
Earlier in the evening, Monte’s girls contributed to a co-ed doubleheader sweep with a 55-28 victory over the Spartans.
Avenging their lone league loss, the Bulldog boys (6-1, 15-4) moved a game ahead of Forks in the league title chase. Although they could fall back into a tie with the Spartans if they lose their league finale Thursday at Hoquiam, they would still likely gain the district’s top-seeded berth on the basis of point differential.
Astonishingly, given the school’s rich athletic tradition, this would be Montesano’s first league title in boys basketball since 1980. Although the Bulldog boys earned their last state berth in 1982, that team barely qualified for district and finished with a 10-17 record.
At game’s end Tuesday, the Bulldogs responded to the victory with smiles but no prolonged celebration.
Montesano’s girls (6-1, 13-6), meanwhile, could tie with Elma and gain a share of their fifth straight league title with a win Friday at Hoquiam. The Eagles, however, would gain the top-seeded district slot by virtue of point differential.
BOYS
Bulldogs 70, Spartans 36
Balanced as usual, Montesano had five players score at least eight points in this one. Senior wing Trevor Ridgway led the way with 15 points, followed by starting post Seth Dierkop and reserve Shaydon Farmer with 11 points apiece.
Choosing Montesano’s outstanding element was a difficult assignment. The Bulldogs shot nearly 50 percent from the field, demonstrated outstanding ball movement and dominated the glass — particularly in the first half.
Monte coach Doug Galloway, however, understandably was most pleased with his team’s defense. Playing primarily man-to-man, the Bulldogs limited the Spartans (5-2, 13-4) to 11 field goals and had a hand in 27 turnovers.
“I felt we had a lot of energy and anticipation and got hands on a lot of balls,” he said.
Galloway added that his club was more patient offensively than in its loss at Forks.
The Spartans led 12-9 when sharpshooter Cort Prose hit a 3-point shot at the 3:04 mark of the first quarter. Those, however, were Forks’ last scoring for nearly eight minutes, as the Dogs ran off 21 successive points.
After Evan Bates and L.J. Valley buried consecutive threes, Valley fed Farmer for a layin that made it 30-12 with 3:39 remaining in the first half.
It was 39-20 at the half and the Bulldogs were never threatened in the second half.
Ridgway also contributed four steals and was one of four Bulldogs with six rebounds. Farmer, Dierkop and Tanner Nicklas were the others.
Valley, who knocked down three treys in the first half, also had five assists and four steals. Sam Winter also came up with four steals.
Prose topped Forks with 10 points.
GIRLS
Bulldogs 55, Spartans 28
Perhaps distracted a bit by Senior Night festivities, Monte’s girls (6-1, 13-6) took a half to find their offensive form.
They led only 29-21 when Forks’ Chloe Leverington opened the second half with a basket. Montesano’s Lexi Lovell, however, stole the ball and soloed for a layin that ignited a 10-0 spree that broke it open. Lovell also hit a three-ball during that span while Zoee Lisherness added three points and an assist.
As with the boys, defense was the most consistent portion of Montesano’s performance Tuesday. The Spartans (1-6, 9-10) shot only 18 percent from the field and committed 26 turnovers.
“I felt that in the second half we got into a rhythm,” Bulldog coach Julie Graves said. “Our defensive activity improved. We got some deflections that led to transition opportunities.”
Lisherness was Montesano’s lone double-digit scorer with 12 points. The Monte freshman also finished with eight rebounds, four assists and three steals.
She shared team rebounding honors with Zoe Hutchings, Samantha Stanfield and Glory Grubb. The latter dished out four assists and Katie Granstrom swiped four steals.
Graves commended her seniors: Stanfield, Haylee Perkinson, McKenna Miller and Kaydee Mittleider.
The two varsity games were part of a seven-game program at Montesano’s two gyms that included JV and C squad contests, a junior high game and a Senior Night ceremony in which 26 basketball players and cheerleaders were honored between games.
Remarkably, the program finished on schedule.
GIRLS
Forks 8 11 5 4 — 28
Monte 9 20 18 8 — 55
Forks (28) — Olson, Baar, Peters 9, Leverington 4, Rondeau 6, Rowley, Kilmer 2, Johnson 7, Kratzer, Hoaglund. FG — 9-49 (.184). FT — 8-16.
Montesano (55) — Grubb 8, Stanfield 4, Perkinson 8, Miller, Mittleider 1, Granstrom 2, Ekerson 4, Hutchings 9, Lisherness 12, Lovell 7. FG — 20-61 (.328). FT — 12-24.
JV — Montesano 38, Forks 22. Sophia Reed 15 points for Montesano.
BOYS
Forks 12 8 4 12 — 36
Monte 20 19 11 20 — 70
Forks (36) — Johnson 2, Jacoby 5, Baysinger 7, Prose 10, Armas 4, Morton 6, Reaume 2, Baar, Archibald. FG — 11-39 (.282). FT — 9-15.
Montesano (70) — Ridgway 15, Nicklas 6, Winter 8, Valley 9, Dierkop 11, Farmer 11, Wyatt, Parker, Albert 4, Bates 3, Johansson, Iverson 3. FG — 27-57 (.474). FT — 9-11.
Montesano’s Sam Winter elevates to put up a shot against Forks on Tuesday night. (Brendan Carl Photography)
