“That was a big one. We had to play fast,” first-year coach Jackie Robinson said. “We couldn’t play a half-court game. They have a lot of size, and it took a whole team effort.”
The Hawks (6-4 overall, 3-0 EvCo) forced 15 turnovers and didn’t allow the Bearcats (9-1 overall) to get to the free-throw line in the first half. Senior wing Necy Wade had a career-high 29 points, and Catriece Baker had 16.
"She shot the ball extremely well tonight," Robinson said of Wade.
Other Tuesday night highlights ...
Girls basketball
-- Carly McIsaac had a career-high 25 points and 10 assists in Tumwater’s78-55 win over Aberdeen to improve to 7-4 overall. The Thunderbirds outscored Aberdeen 46-25 over the second and third quarters. Senior post Haley VandenHazel had 18 points and nine rebounds.
-- North Thurston had a balanced scoring effort with four players in double figures in a 72-34 victory over Centralia. Ciara Williams led all scorers with a game-high 17 points, but the Rams got double figures from Haley Harn and Catie Mets with 11 points apiece and Elyssa Quichocho with 10. She also had 10 steals and five assists.
-- Black Hills earned its ninth victory after its 76-43 nonleague win at home over Hockinson. The Wolves, led by Hope Mortensen's 22 points, resume EvCo play Friday against River Ridge.
Boys basketball
-- North Thurston set the tone early and had its largest lead at 41 early in the fourth quarter in a 77-43 2A Evergreen Conference boys basketball win over Centralia, snapping the Tigers’ four-game winning streak. The Rams, who shot 54 percent for the game, had the hot hand early and went on an 18-0 run in the second quarter. The Rams were led by Landon Rushton with a game-high 21 points, followed by Matt Reid’s 18. Steven Stone had 16 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks.
-- River Ridge remains the only EvCo boys basketball team undefeated in league play after an impressive 62-42 road win at Chehalis. Howie Harper had a game-high 22 points, and Brad Wallace chipped in with 19 points. The Hawks held the Bearcats 31 percent shooting, including 4 of 22 from 3-point range.
-- Led by Jake Crawford’s team-best 15 points, Black Hills snapped its two-game losing skid with a 57-53 nonleague win over Timberline. Dan Cunningham and Caleb Montelongo also had 10 points apiece for the Wolves. Sophomore guard Donaven Dorsey had a game-high 16 points to lead the Blazers.
-- Tumwater’s Daniel Hinkle led three T-Birds in double figures in their 68-56 win over Aberdeen. The Thunderbirds, with their fourth straight win, outscored the Bobcats 19-5 in the third quarter. Hinkle had 13 points, followed by Josiah Warner's 12 points and David Cooper's 11.
-- Northwest Christian exploded for 33 first-quarter points on its way to a season-high 86 points in an 86-48 Pacific 2B League win over Ocosta. Nick Mailhot paced the Navigators with 26 points.
