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The defending 2A EvCo girls champions beat Aberdeen, 72-42, at Saint Martin’s University’s Marcus Pavilion, setting season highs in points and margin of victory.
Even though the game was part of the opening day of the South Sound Classic, it counts as an EvCo game for the Hawks (4-3 overall, 2-0 EvCo) since the contest was moved from River Ridge to SMU.
“I’ve been waiting on that game, for sure,” first-year Hawks coach Jackie Robinson said of his team’s performance in a game that lasted 1 hour and 10 minutes.
In its six previous games, the Hawks were 3-3, with all three losses to 3A programs – Auburn Mountainview, Timberline and Wilson.
What made the victory even more impressive is that it was the Hawks’ first win without senior point guard Samira McDonald. McDonald suffered a dislocated kneecap in the final minutes of last week’s 67-60 loss against Timberline.
It was at this time last year that McDonald, an all-state player in 2009-10 as a sophomore, suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury and missed nearly her entire junior season. Robinson said there’s no timetable for McDonald’s return.
In her place, Robinson primarily used Kyahri Adams at the point, but plans to use a three-player rotation at that position – Adams, Necy Wade and Catriece Baker. Adams had a game-high 18 points, followed by Rebecca Stevenson’s 16 and Wade’s 13.
The Hawks’ defensive pressure forced Aberdeen (3-6, 0-3) into 22 turnovers, and River Ridge got more than half of its points off the fastbreak.
They also held the Bobcats’ leading scorer – junior Mo Donovan – to seven points, including one field goal in the second half.
Leading 42-30 at halftime, River Ridge turned up its defensive pressure. The Hawks started the third quarter on a 16-4 run and held Aberdeen to 12 points in the second half.
River Ridge was effective on offense, with just eight turnovers.
Robinson talked about his team being selfless with three players scoring in double figures, and hitting shots not just on the perimeter (7-for-19 on 3-pointers), but also utilizing a size advantage with Stevenson.
“That’s what we need to take it into the 28th (against Cedar Park Christian),” Robinson said. “This was a good team effort, an all-around team effort.”
BOYS
River Ridge 70, Skyview 58: An 11-2 run in the third quarter helped the Hawks pull away from the 4A Storm in the boys varsity game of the South Sound Classic.
River Ridge (4-3 overall) led at halftime, 32-23, and got big third-quarter production from Brad Wallace and Howie Harper, who combined for 18 points in the quarter.
Wallace led all scorers with a game-high 23 points, and Trey Petty added 12 as they were two of the four Hawks to reach double figures.
The Hawks’ largest lead was 60-36 with 7:04 left in the fourth quarter as Wallace made two free throws following a fastbreak off a steal.
Although Skyview had a significant size advantage with Levi Gellatly and Ryan Bickford – both 6-foot-7 – one of River Ridge’s second-half adjustments was limiting their touches inside.
“We had good shots selections within 10 feet,” River Ridge coach Jeremy Landram said. “We wanted to take the game out of the big guys’ hands and be more physical with shots inside the key.”
The tournament concludes today with four boys games. The two boys varsity games will take place in the evening – Skyview vs. Kentridge at 6:15 p.m. and River Ridge vs. Foss at 8 p.m.
Meg Wochnick: 360-754-5473 mwochnick@theolympian.com www.theolympian.com/southsoundsports
