Raymond-South Bend’s girls basketball team beat Hoquiam in the conclusion of the Raymond New Year’s Classic as we review the final prep sporting events of 2023.
GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL
Raymond-South Bend 49, Hoquiam 17
Raymond-South Bend jumped out to an early double-digit lead en route to a 49-17 win over Hoquiam on Friday at the Raymond New Year’s Classic at Raymond High School.
The Ravens (8-3 overall) scored the game’s first 11 points en route to a 14-1 first quarter and led by 17 at halftime over Hoquiam (2-6).
Turnovers plagued the Grizzlies once again as Hoquiam turned the ball over 30 times while the Ravens collected 27 steals led by standout sophomore Kassie Koski with eight.
Koski led all scorers with 17 points and had three blocks in the game.
PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Raymond-South Bend’s Kassie Koski, left, drives against Hoquiam’s Nadine Stewart during the Ravens’ 49-17 win on Friday in Raymond.
The Ravens shared the ball well, recording 12 assists on 16 made field goals, a stat that pleased RSB head coach Jason Koski.
“Kassie had another strong all-around game and our assists to field goal ratio was good again,” said Coach Koski, who was perturbed by his team’s mistakes, including 17 turnovers. “Offensively, we struggled with too many unforced errors. … Give credit to Hoquiam changing defenses to make it challenging getting into any offensive rhythm.”
Dylan Little led Hoquiam with six points as the Grizzlies hit just five shots from the field and scored one point in the first quarter.
The Grizzlies face Elma in a 1A Evergreen League contest at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in Elma.
The Ravens host Aberdeen at 7 p.m. on Thursday at South Bend High School.
Hoquiam 1 8 5 3 – 17
RSB 14 12 15 8 – 49
Scoring: Hoquiam – Little 6, LaBounty 3, Brook-Andrew 3, Howard 3, Stewart 2. RSB – Kas. Koski 17, Glazier 8, Baugher 6, Stigall 5, Pine 5, Kongbouakhay 3, Morley 3, Kyn. Koski 2.
Other scores
Seton Catholic 54, Willapa Valley 20
BOYS PREP BASKETBALL
Stevenson 62, Willapa Valley 38
Willapa Valley trailed early and never recovered in a 62-38 loss to Stevenson on Saturday in Ilwaco.
The Vikings (5-5) trailed by 15 after one quarter in a game where the Vikings committed 24 turnovers.
“This was a rough one for us offensively. We turned the ball over too much and struggled to score,” Valley head coach Derek Rask said. “Stevenson switched defenses on us frequently and we struggled to adjust and get a rhythm on the offensive end. I thought we played hard though, despite the adversity we faced on offense.”
Brody Ritzman (4 points, 11 rebounds), Connor “Cheese” Keeton (9 pts., 3 reb.) and Blaine King (9 pts., 2 assists, 2 steals) led Willapa Valley.
The Vikings shot 27% on 13-of-49 shooting, including 2 of 17 from the 3-point line (12%).
Stevenson went 24 of 50 from the floor (48%).
Valley hosts Morton-White Pass at 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday.
Willapa Valley 9 13 3 13 – 38
Stevenson 24 17 13 8 – 62
Scoring: Willapa Valley: Keeton 9, King 9, Swartz 4, Ritzman 4, Young 4, Fluke 3, Lusk 3, Russell 2.
PREP BOYS WRESTLING
Elma places fourth at The Rock tournament
Led by a first-place finish from Xavier Espinoza, the Elma Eagles placed fourth as a team at The Rock on Vashon tournament on Friday in Vashon.
Espinoza won the 113-pound class by defeating Darrington’s Creed Wright via fall at 3:46 in the championship match.
Elma’s Aidyn Johnson (120 p0unds) and Kale Reeves (132) each placed third in their respective weight classes as the Eagles scored 140.5 points to place fourth out of 16 teams.
“Hats off to Xavier Espinoza for wrestling lights out today and Aidyn Johnson and Kale Reeves for showing heart and finishing strong through the consolations,” Elma head coach Jeff Catterlin said.
Hoquiam finished seventh as a team with 109.5 points.
Justice Larsson (106, 3rd), Junior Soto (120, 2nd) and Oliver Bryson (190, 3rd) earned top-three spots to lead the Grizzlies.
Montesano placed 10th with 100.5 points thanks to top-three finishes from Gage Stutesman (157, 2nd), Felix Romero (215, 3rd) and Logan Roberts (285, 3rd).
Full results are available at trackwrestling.com.
