Wednesday Roundup: Aberdeen fares better this time but still falls to Black Hills

Also: Grays Harbor College teams swept on the road by Highline

By Ryan Sparks • January 30, 2020 5:00 am

BOYS PREP BASKETBALL

Black Hills 64, Aberdeen 57

The Aberdeen Bobcats took the league’s top team to the brink, but ultimately it was the Black Hills Wolves that emerged with the victory on Wednesday, defeating the Bobcats 64-57 on Wednesday at Black Hills High School.

Aberdeen (6-11 overall, 2-5 Evergreen 2A) fared much better in the second meeting of the season between the two teams. The Bobcats, which lost to Black Hills (13-4, 7-0) 79-30 back on Jan. 18, rallied in the second quarter to tie the game at 27 and took a one-point lead into the final eight minutes of the game.

But the Wolves, which was held to 16 points or less in each of the first three quarter, broke through to outscore the Bobcats by eight, 22-14, in the fourth quarter, hitting free throws down the stretch to secure the win.

“Solid team effort despite the loss,” Aberdeen head coach Mark Buckman said. “I’m proud of how they battled a ranked Black Hills team for four quarters after suffering a 49 point loss on Jan. 18. I believe we can finish the season strong and play our best team basketball over the final three games of the season.”

Gio Pisani led Aberdeen with 18 points on six made 3-pointers.

Wyatt Johnson scored 14 points and Ethan Morrill added 11 points and five steals for the Bobcats.

Black Hills was led by Avery Armin and Justin Hicks, who scored 16 and 15 points, respectively.

Aberdeen 12 15 16 14 — 57

Black Hills 16 11 15 22 — 64

MEN”S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Highline 90, Grays Harbor 71

Grays Harbor couldn’t overcome a large first-half deficit en route to a 90-71 loss to Highline on Wednesday at Highline Community College.

The Chokers (13-9, 4-3 NWAC West) fell behind by 18 at the half and couldn’t make up the difference as the Thunderbirds (11-10, 3-4) shot a blistering 55% (34-62), including 14-for-29 (45%) from beyond the arc.

Grays Harbor got balanced scoring as five different Chokers scored in double figures, led by Zyare Ruffin’s 15 points.

Zachary Marrotte (15 points), Matt Pearson (14 pts.), Genuine Powell (12 pts.) and Antoine Hines (11 pts.) also scored in double figures for the Chokers, which shot 23-of-52 (44%) as a team but hit just 5-of-21 (24%) 3-point shots in the game.

Highline was led by Nathan Yockey, who scored a game-high 27 points.

Grays Harbor 32 39 — 71

Highline 50 40 — 90

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Highline 58, Grays Harbor 15

Grays Harbor managed just four points in the first half en route to a 58-15 loss to Highline on Wednesday in Des Moines.

The Chokers (0-10, 0-6 NWAC West) scored two points in each of the first two quarters and trailed 33-4 at halftime.

Armonnie Byrd led the Chokers with nine points and 15 rebounds.

Highline (5-12, 3-4) was led by Patrea Topp’s 14 points.

Grays Harbor 2 2 4 7 — 15

Highline 17 16 13 12 — 58