GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL

Raymond 60, Willapa Valley 25

Raymond guard Kyra Gardner scored 30 points for the second straight game as the Seagulls earned a 60-25 league-victory over Willapa Valley on Thursday in Raymond.

Two nights after leading the Seagulls (2-0 overall, 1-0 Pacific 2B) to a victory over Elma, Gardner went 13-for-22 to score 30 points on Thursday.

The sophomore guard scored 18 of her game-high 30 points off of her nine steals, one shy of a triple-double as Gardner also had 11 rebounds in the contest.

“She’s the real thing,” Willapa Valley head coach John Peterson said of Gardner. “She is a really good player.”

Playing its first game of the season, Willapa Valley struggled to maintain consistency and take care of the basketball. The Vikings shot just 8-for-47 from the field and committed 22 turnovers.

“We couldn’t have played a worse game,” Peterson said, adding a lot of his team’s problems had to do with Raymond playing a solid game. “Raymond played well and I credit them … It wasn’t a bad night, it was a horrible night.”

Willapa Valley fell behind 9-0 but rallied to but into the lead after Katie Adkins scored six straight points to cut into Raymond’s lead.

But the Seagulls extended the lead to 22-10 in the second quarter.

Willapa Valley cut the lead to 22-14 in another attempt to keep the game within striking distance.

But that’s “when the wheels fell off,” according to Peterson, as Willapa Valley could only muster five points in the second quarter and shot just 1-for-12 in the third.

“In the second quarter, we really concentrated and played disciplined assignment team defense allowing only five points. In the third, we made a couple of adjustments offensively and really executed well,” Raymond head coach Jason Koski said. “Playing league games so early in the season really puts the pressure to perform at a high level probably earlier than you are ready for. In that regard, I’m proud of the kids for their effort and concentration with the game plan.”

Willapa Valley plays its second game in as many days when they take on Northwest Christian at 5:45 p.m. Friday in Lacey.

Raymond hosts Ocosta at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Willapa Valley 10 5 3 7 — 25

Raymond 22 11 15 12 — 60

Top Players: Raymond — Gardner (30 pts., 11 reb., 9 stl.); Hannah Miller (8 pts.); Willapa Valley — Adkins (13 pts., 9 reb.); Britney Patrick (9 reb.)

South Bend 37, Northwest Christian 36

Blakeli Jerles hit a jump shot with just over one second left in the game to give the South Bend Indians a 37-36 victory over Northwest Christian on Thursday in Lacey.

Down by eight at the half, South Bend (1-0, 1-0 Pacific 2B) rallied to take a seven point lead in the fourth quarter.

But NWC (0-2, 0-1) rallied to take a one point lead, setting up South Bend with one last possession to take the lead with just 10 seconds left in the game.

Jerles drained a jumper from the left corner of the free-throw line to give South Bend a 37-36 lead with 1.5 second left in the game.

A last-second, desperation heave by NWC was off-target, giving South Bend a season-opening victory.

“The girls were thrilled,” South Bend head coach Randy Carlson said. “They played the second half the way I hoped they could play. It’s a big win for them after losing all those seniors (from least season’s team).”

Alise Rohr led South Bend with 13 points.

South Bend takes on North Beach at 7 p.m. Saturday in Ocean Shores.

South Bend 10 2 13 12 — 37

Northwest Christian 13 7 8 8 — 36

Top Players: South Bend — Rohr (13 pts.); Elli Capps (8 pts.)

Pe Ell 52, Ocosta 42

Pe Ell handed Ocosta its second loss to open the season as the Trojans defeated the Wildcats 52-42 on Thursday in Westport.

Pe Ell’s Annika Mason led the way for the Trojans (1-0, 1-0 Pacific 2B) scoring 23 points to lead all scorers on the evening.

Layne Martin (12 points) and Katelynn Denny (10 points, 10 rebounds) paced Ocosta (0-2, 0-1).

Pe Ell hosts Chief Leschi at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Ocosta hosts Raymond at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Pe Ell 11 13 11 17 — 52

Ocosta 3 8 10 21 — 42

Top Players: Pe Ell — Mason (23 pts.). Ocosta — L. Martin (12 pts., 7 reb.); Denny (10 pts., 10 reb.); Devyn Martin (9 pts., 7 reb.)

Other Scores

Capital 42, Aberdeen 28

BOYS PREP BASKETBALL

Montesano 60, Rochester 29

Three Bulldogs scored in double figures as Montesano opened its 2019-20 season with a 60-29 romp over Rochester on Thursday in Montesano.

Carter Olsen and Colby Adams scored 12 points apiece and Trace Ridgway added 11 points as Monte got at least nine points from nine different players.

Leading by 10 after the first quarter, Monte (1-0) outscored Rochester (0-1) by 19 points in the second frame to blow the game wide open.

“I’m hoping that continues,” Monte head coach Doug Galloway said. “We’re kind of a new team together and are figuring things out. I thought our kids played hard tonight and that was our challenge to them at the beginning of the game.”

Monte shot a blistering 29-for-60 as a team (48%) and held Rochester to just 8-of-38 shooting (21%).

Monte hosts Castle Rock at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Rochester 7 9 8 3 — 27

Montesano 17 28 16 8 — 69

Top Players: Montesano — Olsen (12 pts.); Adams (12 pts.); Ridgway (11 pts.); Braden Dohrmann (9 pts.); Terrance Albert (6 pts.); Christian Taylor (4 pts.); Wesley Bjornsgard (4 pts.); Ben Wills (4 pts.)

Seattle Christian 76, Elma 73

An eight point lead for Elma evaporated in the second half in the Eagles’ 76-73 season-opening loss to Seattle Christian on Thursday in Seattle.

Elma (0-1) led 45-37 by halftime but lost its lead after Seattle Christian outscored the Eagles 21-13 in the third quarter.

“We had a really good first half. We beat their press consistently for easy buckets,” Elma head coach Jeff Niemi said. “They switched up pressures and we got a little out of sorts in the third quarter.”

Elma shot 30-for-60 from the field, including going 10-for-27 from beyond the arc.

The Eagles outrebounded Seattle Christian 31-16 and had 15 assists in the contest.

But Elma committed 27 turnovers, which Niemi said was a difference in the game.

“Great shooting and passing for us, (but we had) too many turnovers,” he said. “I”m really proud of the effort our kids showed against a solid opponent this early in the season.”

Elma 26 19 13 15 — 73

Seattle Christian 21 16 21 18 — 76