ILWACO – One could not have written a more perfect script for Ilwaco Fishermen Senior Night. The five soon-to-be graduates, Kyle Kaino, Andy Hudkins, Dustin Starr, Adam Ellsworth, and David Thorne, started the game against Woodland, produced a 9-2 lead, and played much of the final period together, as they helped fashion a lopsided 48-34 win Tuesday at Ilwaco.

Woodland’s deliberate style of play and a box-and-one defense on Kaino did slow the Ilwaco offensive effort, however, the Beaver scoring went almost into hibernation. Taking up the scoring punch was Starr with 15 points, Thorne added nine, and Hudkins tallied seven.

Kaino was held to a season-low four points, but his steal and layin to begin the second half upped the Fishermen lead to 15, while Ellsworth contributed two points and four rebounds. Junior Ryan Cadwell, who gave up his starting position for the evening, dropped in six points, garnered four rebounds, and passed for three assists when he wasn’t robustly cheering his teammates on to victory number 13 against six set backs. Starr led Ilwaco in rebounding with six caroms.

The Fishermen defense was superlative, allowing the Beavers’ shuffle-cut offense a meager 21 points in three quarters of play. Jordan Williams (two points), Rocky Mirelez (three points), and Tony Crete contributed defensively as Coach Matt Blair substituted liberally throughout the second half.

When the Beavers tried to gnaw away at Ilwaco’s lead in the final period by applying a full-court zone press, the Fishermen boosted the lead to 48-30 with 1:43 remaining in the game, obviously finding the faster tempo much to their liking.

Ilwaco, in running its Trico League mark to 8-3, shot 17-46 (37 percent) from the field and hit on 11-19 from the line (58 percent) while Woodland made 13-36 from the field (36 percent) and 7-10 from the free throw stripe (70 percent). Rebounds were even at 28 each and fouls were the same for both teams at 15. The Beavers turned the ball over 22 times to 13 for Ilwaco.

The junior varsity assured themselves of at least a .500 mark for the season, winning their seventh game against six losses by a 47-34 count. Tommy Inserra and Ryan Gray both ripped the twine for 13 points.

Woodland 5 7 8 14 -34

Ilwaco 11 12 13 12 -48

Ilwaco – Starr 15, Thorne 9, Hudkins 7, Cadwell 6, Kaino 4, Mirelez 3, Ellsworth 2, Williams 2, Crete

Woodland – Sturdivan 12, Hollis 6, Schang 6, Klein 4, Christopherson 2, Ripp 2, Brown 2