MONTESANO — In attack mode literally from the opening tip, Montesano’s boys cruised into the holiday break with a decisive win.
The Bulldog girls, in contrast, will find a potentially valuable lesson in their Christmas stocking.
Shaydon Farmer scored a career-high 21 points as Montesano cruised to a 73-45 victory over Ilwaco in the boys half of a co-ed basketball doubleheader Friday night at Bo Griffith Memorial Gym.
Earlier, the Bulldog girls had succumbed to Ilwaco’s relentless defensive pressure and fell to the unbeaten Fishermen, 60-44.
BOYS
Bulldogs 73, Fishermen 45
Farmer made 8 of his 11 field-goal attempts and all four of his free throws. The 6-foot junior attained a double-double with 10 rebounds.
Otherwise, the Bulldogs (6-2) were the epitome of balance. Senior center Seth Dierkop scored 11 points and sophomore Sam Winter 10, while three others tallied eight points apiece.
The Bulldogs set the tone immediately by winning the opening tip and freeing Farmer for a layin. That was the first of numerous close-in opportunities, as Monte ran the break very well and also drove repeatedly for layins off its half-court set.
“That’s our plan. We’re trying to attack the basket to get some buckets or maybe get to the free-throw line — something we haven’t that much in the past (but) have done well this year,” Monte coach Doug Galloway said.”I thought our kids ran the floor well.”
Dierkop followed Farmer’s opening basket by converting a Trevor Ridgway feed. Farmer’s ensuing rebound basket gave Monte a 6-0 lead with the game barely a minute old. The Bulldogs were up by double-digits at 11-1 less than three minutes later and were never threatened the rest of the way.
Tanner Nicklas also pulled down 10 rebounds for the Bulldogs. Ridgway handed out six assists, one more than teammate L.J. Valley.
Tenyson Ramsey paced Ilwaco (4-6) with 13 points.
The Bulldogs will compete in the Raymond Holiday Tournament beginning Thursday, opening against Darrington at 2:30 p.m.
GIRLS
Fishermen 60, Bulldogs 44
Montesano’s girls, who had exceeded virtually all expectations with a strong start following heavy graduation losses, saw their inexperience show against an Ilwaco club that was fourth at state last year and is top-ranked in the statewide 2B RPI ratings.
In addition, the Fishermen (9-0) who had been dominating Pacific 2B League opposition even without senior standout Mackenzie Kaech (who had been sidelined with an ankle injury) now have Kaech back in the lineup.
They also fashioned a full-court pressure defense that gave Monte’s ball-handlers fits.
The Bulldogs (7-2) committed 11 turnovers — the majority on overthrown passes — in the first quarter alone and ended the night with 25.
“We are inexperienced and we didn’t handle the pressure at the start,” Montesano coach Julie Graves said.
Incredibly, the Bulldogs were still locked in an 11-all deadlock when Zoee Lisherness hit from the top of the key at the 5:52 mark of the second quarter. They trailed by only four, at 23-19, at the half.
But the Fishermen, who had missed numerous close-in shots in the first two quarters, found their shooting touch after the break. With the agile Kaech scoring 20 points and 6-foot senior Madeline Jacobson adding 14 of her 18 markers in the second half, Ilwaco shot 54 percent from the field in the final two quarters.
Montesano’s Lisherness and Lexi Lovell scored 10 points apiece, with the former also contributing seven rebounds. Sophomore post Zoe Hutchings had nine points and nine rebounds for the Bulldogs, while Glory Grubb came off the bench to dish out three assists.
“We really need to learn and grow from this game. We need to continue to improve,” Graves added.
The Bulldogs will compete in Lynden Christian’s Cloud 9 tourney Wednesday and Thursday, facing perennial state power King’s at noon Wednesday.
GIRLS
Ilwaco 11 12 21 16 — 60
Montesano 9 10 10 15 — 44
Ilwaco (60) — Glenn 4, Bannister 13, Thomas 5, Kaech 20, Jacobson 18, McMullen, Sheldon, Kemmer. FG — 25-72 (.347). FT — 5-6.
Montesano (44) — Granstrom 4, Hutchings 9, Stanfield 3, Lovell 10, Lisherness 10, Grubb 6, Perkinson 2. FG — 20-53 (.377). FT — 3-4.
BOYS
Ilwaco 8 13 16 8 — 45
Montesano 20 17 21 15 — 73
Ilwaco (45) — Kaino 4, Ramsey 13, Glenn 9, Tynkila 12, Sheldon 2, Whiting 5, Kaech, Baze. FG — 17-52 (.327). FT — 8-19.
Montesano (73) — Ridgway 8, Winter 10, Valley 8, Farmer 21, Dierkop 11, Johansson, Bates 8, Nicklas 2, Albert 3, Parker 2, Wyatt. FG — 28-62 (.452). FT — 13-18
