By Ryan Sparks and Hasani Grayson
Grays Harbor News Group
PREP VOLLEYBALL
2B District IV Tournment, Semifinals
Ocosta 3, Mossyrock 1
Ocosta is one step closer to a district championship after tense 3-1 victory over Mossyrock in the 2B District IV semifinals on Tuesday at Adna High School.
The Wildcats took the match 25-23, 20-25, 25-19 and 25-20 with the help of some strong offensive numbers from outside hitter Kaylee Barnum and a high-energy defensive effort from libero Evalyn Marsh.
Barnum used a combination of finesse and power shots to come away with 19 kills and six aces while Marsh had a team-leading 18 digs.
The Wildcats came out strong and withstood a Mossyrock comeback attempt in a 25-23 first set victory.
But Ocosta had trouble communicating and finding a rhythm in the second set as Mossyrock tied the match at 1-1 with a 25-20 set win.
“I think our energy was off in the second set,” Marsh said. “As soon as we messed up one play our energy would be low, but once we got our energy back up again we were killing it.”
Ocosta’s Evalyn Marsh digs out a shot in the first set against Mossyrock on Tuesday. Marsh led the team with 18 digs in the match. (Hasani Grayson | Grays Harbor News Group)
The third and fourth sets went smoothly offensively and defensively for the Wildcats as they never feel behind by more than two points the remainder of the match, winning those sets by scores of 25-19 and 25-20, respectively.
With two days between Ocosta’s state-tournament clinching win on Saturday and Tuesday’s matchup, the Wildcats were faced with the tough task of working with a new defensive strategy against the Vikings.
Wildcats coach Barbara Rasmus said she was really proud of how her team executed the gameplan that they hadn’t worked on until Monday.
“When we practiced yesterday we readjusted our defense. It was a little bit new for them so they would go to their old spots instead of their new place,” she said. “Once they got it together they played like a well-oiled machine. They adjusted to the new defense that we worked on and they just played so smart.”
With the win, Ocosta is guaranteed to enter the state tournament no lower than a No. 2 seed and will have an opportunity to win its first district championship since 1990 when they face Kalama at 3 p.m. on Saturday in Adna.
The Wildcats coaching staff did a little bit of scouting for their next opponent when they watched Kalama beat Morton-White Pass 3-1 earlier in the day.
Rasmus said she is looking forward to working on another new strategy at practice tomorrow.
“We watched Kalama today so our next two practices we’ll adjust a little bit to what we saw today with their coverage and their offense,” she said. “We have an extra day to practice so we should be able to execute.”
Ocosta 25 20 25 25 — 3
Mossyrock 23 25 19 20 — 1
Top Players: Layne Martin (13 kills, 6 aces), Kylee Poirier (8 blocks), Emily Snider (32 assists)
2B District IV Tournament, Consolation Round
South Bend eliminated from District tournament
South Bend had its postseason come to an end Tuesday night with a loss to Morton-White Pass at Adna High School.
Earlier in the consolation bracket, South Bend made quick work of Adna, beating the Pirates in straight sets 25-15, 25-20 and 25-13.
Jessica Sanchez led the wayagainst Adna with 17 digs and 15 kills. Hannah Byington and Livvie Ogilvie had 15 and 12 digs each, respectively.
The Indians’ tournament run came to an end against Morton-White Pass later in the day, however, losing 3-1.
MWP won the match 25-22, 17-25, 25-20 and 25-22 to end the Indian’s season in a close match.
Sanchez was solid in the nightcap as well with 23 kills, 18 digs and seven blocks. Joshlynne Johnson also had a good game in the season-ending loss with 21 digs and 18 serves without an error.
Indians head coach Kelsey Staats was disapointed with the loss but proud of the effort she saw late in the season.
“Our season ended tonight, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort. The girls put up a good fight,” she said. “I’d like to commend my seniors for a great season. We couldn’t have made it as far as we did without their effort. They’re a hard working, talented group. They leave big shoes to fill and will be missed.”
South Bend 25 25 25 – 3
Adna 15 20 13 – 0
South Bend 22 25 20 22 – 1
MWP 25 17 25 25 –3
1B District Tournament
Lake Quinault 3, Columbia Adventist Academy 0
Lake Quinault is one step closer to a state playoff berth as the Elks earned a straight-set victory against Columbia Adventist Academy on Tuesday night at Lake Quinault High School.
Lake Quinault won the match 25-9, 25-22 and 25-22 and will play Naselle on Thursday in Tumwater with a trip to the state tournament on the line.
“I’d like to credit all the girls for their play in a well-rounded game,” said Elks head coach Suzana Kalama.
Lake Quinault 25 25 25 — 3
CAA 9 22 2 — 0
1B District IV Tournament
Three Rivers Christian 3, Wishkah Valley 0
The Wishkah Valley Loggerettes lost Tuesday’s playoff game in straight sets at Wishkah Valley High School.
“Three Rivers Chrisitian came out strong and we struggled defensively,” Wishkah Valley head coach Katerina Eaton said. “We also struggled with our serving tonight. The girls rallied in game three, but it was too late.”
Wishkah (8-3, 7-1 Coastal 1B) lost 25-9, 25-15 and 25-22.
Three Rivers Christian 25 25 25 — 3
Wishkah Valley 9 15 22 — 0
PREP SOCCER
1A District IV Tournament, First Round
Elma 6, Columbia-White Salmon 2
Elma got two goals apiece from Brooke Sutherby and Jillian Bieker as the Eagles advanced to the quarterfinal round of the 1A District IV semifinals with a 6-2 win over Columbia-White Salmon on Tuesday.
Elma (10-6-1, 5-3 Evergreen 1A) took a 2-0 first-half lead after Sutherby scored on an assist from Molly Johnston in the 18th minute followed by a Sutherby’s second tally in the 34th minute.
After a CWS goal a minute later made it a 2-1 game at halftime, it was Bieker’s turn to take over in the second half. The junior assisted on a goal by Kassedy Olson in the 44th minute then scored four minutes later to give Elma a 4-1 lead. She gave the Eagles a four-goal lead by scoring off an assist from Paige Knutson in the 62nd minute.
Rebeka Lensegrav scored on a penalty kick in the 68th minute to give Elma the 6-2 victory and a date in the district semifinals against Montesano on Thursday.
“We had good passing, possessed the ball well and our shooting percentage has improved over the last few games,” Elma head coach Scott Rockey said.
Elma and Monte split their two league meetings this season, and both games were close. The Eagles won 2-1 in sudden death on Oct. 2 with Monte winning a 3-2 game on Oct. 18.
“I don’t think any secrets are left in the bag,” Rockey said of facing Monte in a playoff rubber match. “I think it will be a hard-fought game to the end, like the other two games have been.”
No time is available for Thursday’s game at the time of this writing.
Elma 2 4 — 6
CWS 1 1 — 2
2A District Tournament, Consolation Round
Black Hills 3, Aberdeen 2
Aberdeen couldn’t find a late equalizer and saw its season come to an end in the consolation round of the 2A District IV Tournament on Tuesday at Black Hills High School.
Aberdeen gave up goals in the 9th and 22nd minutes to go down 2-0 heading into halftime.
The Bobcats got one of those goals back in the 52nd minute when Logan Glanz applied pressure on the Wolves’ backline, helping to create a turnover that Emmy Walsh took advantage of as Black Hills tried to pass the ball back into its own box. Walsh capitalized on the Black Hills mistake to make cut the deficit to 2-1.
Black Hills pushed their lead to back to two goals with a conversion in the 63rd minute.
Aberdeen responded 10 minutes later when Walsh scored on a penalty kick after Glanz was taken down inside the box to put Aberdeen back with in a goal at 3-2.
Both Green and Walsh had chances in the final minutes of the match but couldn’t find the back of the net.
“Like many of our games this season, a better touch here or there could have turned the tide in our favor, but we just couldn’t quite make the shot or the save we needed to,” Aberdeen head coach Larry Fleming said. “It was definitely not for a lack of hustle and effort on the girls’ part. The girls made a lot of strides this season and really played a strong game tonight against a good opponent”.
Black Hills 2 1 – 3
Aberdeen 0 2 –2
2B District IV Tournament, Semifinals
Kalama 1, Ocosta
Ocosta played an even game with Kalama but couldn’t even the scoreboard after surrendering a late goal in a 1-0 district semifinal loss to the Chinkooks on Tuesday in Napavine.
While both teams were stingy with the offensive opportunities, it was Kalama that broke through by finishing on a cross in the 72nd minute.
The Wildcats will face Onalaksa at 10 am on Saturday at Centralia High School in the tournament’s third-place game.
Kalama 0 1 —1
Ocosta 0 0 — 0
