Basketball: Olympia downs Timberline, 50-35, in girls hoops; other Friday night highlights

By Meg Wochnick
Staff writer

OLYMPIA -- Don’t expect to see a superstar-type player in the Olympia Bears’ starting lineup or coming off the bench. Depending on the game may depend on which player has a career night, or whether the box score is filled up with balanced scoring all-around.

The latter was what took place in the Bears’ 50-35 nonleague girls basketball victory over TImberline Friday night at Chick Rockey Gymnasium at Olympia High School -- balance scoring and sharing the basketball.

“We have our times to shine -- everyone has them,” said sophomore forward Faith Cebula, who had 10 points, eight rebounds and two steals in the Bears’ win. “Everybody’s equal.”

This was Cebula’s third game of her young high school career. She sat out her freshman season after tearing the ACL in her right knee during fall basketball with the Bears. In all three of the Bears’ games, Cebula’s scored in double figures.

She was one of three Olympia players to reach double figures against Timberline. Sophomore guard Sarah Snodgrass collected 11 of her game-high 13 points in the first half as Olympia (2-1) raced out to a 26-20 halftime lead, and Jenna Randich was 3-of-6 from 3-point for nine of her 11 points in the game. Mackenzie Cooper and was a perfect 4-of-4 from the field for her eight points.

Passing the wealth around -- and passing the ball sometimes seven or eight times before a shot -- is what Olympia coach Rod Tripp said his team has worked on.

“We pass up pretty good shots for better shots,” Tripp said.

While this was Olympia’s third game of the season -- and first in nine days since a 43-41 win over Lincoln on Nov. 28 -- it was Timberline’s season opener.

Olympia’s pressure man-to-man defense limited the Blazers (0-1) offensively, especially around the perimeter. They shot 11-of-40 from the floor, and had a five-minute scoring drought in the third quarter as Olympia stretch its six-point halftime lead to 16 at 40-24.

The Bears’ largest lead was at 19 at 45-26 inside 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Senior Kiera Allen had a team-high 10 points for the Blazers and sophomore Callan Russell finished with nine.

Other Friday highlights

Girls basketball
-- Sarah McGee’s all-around performance of 13 points, 17 rebounds, four assists and three steals lifted Black Hills to a 53-42 victory over Auburn Mountainview Friday night in a nonleague girls basketball game. The Wolves are now 5-0 overall. McGee was one of three Wolves players in double figures as Nicole Nurmi had 11 and Hope Mortensen had 10.

-- A 22-5 run by Yelm gave the Tornados a commanding lead on their way to a 66-43 nonleague victory over North Thurston. Anushka Maldonado and MacKenzie DeVore each had a game-high 14 points for Yelm. Haley Harn paced North Thurston with 11 points.

Sloan Jackowich and Spencer Pettit combined for 25 of Capital’s 40 points in a 49-40 nonleague loss to Enumclaw.

Boys basketball
-- Louis Johnson was one of three Olympia players in double figures with a game-high 21 points in Olympia’s 61-50 nonleague victory over Timberline. In addition to Johnson, who also had nine rebounds, Michael Champlain had 10 points and Michael Naipo had 11. Donaven Dorsey led Timberline (1-1) with a team-best 20 points. Olympia outrebounded Timberline, 33-22, including a 10-3 advantage in offensive rebounds.

-- Capital outscored Peninsula 22-1 in the third quarter on its way to claiming a 79-43 nonleague victory over the Seahawks. Keenan Williams led all scorers with a game-high 18 points and Justin Russ and Mat Cox had 13 and 12 points apiece, respectively.

-- Braden Rushton (15 points) and Ande Grantham (13) led North Thurston to its first win of the season in a 59-56 victory over Yelm. Dale Sullivan had 19 points for the Tornados and Trey Friend had 18.

-- David Cooper had 16 points in his season debut for Tumwater and Josiah Warner had 10 in Tumwater’s 60-49 nonleague loss to Enumclaw. It was the T-Birds’ first game in 10 days since their season opener.

-- Toutle Lake dropped Rainier to 0-4 overall with a 42-36 nonleague victory over the Mountaineers.