Parker Kaech attacks the basket as Life Christian's Chae Haynes protects the rim.

ILWACO — Life Christian led by as many as 31 points in a 74-55 victory over Ilwaco Monday, Jan. 20.

The Eagles, a state semifinalist last year, feature overwhelming size and talent and brought their “A game” to Ilwaco.

Dai’Shaun Nichols showed his smooth scoring ability, easing into the lane to score in the middle of the Ilwaco zone and creating plays in transition. He had 10 points by the early second quarter, finishing that stretch by barreling through the defense on a one-man break for a 24-12 lead.

Afterward, Ilwaco’s Daniel Whiting got the ball on a sharp baseline cut, a play that would have probably scored against any other team in the league. But Omari Maulana made an acrobatic block, leading to a Life Christian three-pointer the other way that made it 27-12.

Maulana, the ultra-fast 6’1” junior guard, was league MVP two years ago. He and Nichols, his equally talented sophomore teammate, form a devastating back-court duo. Compounding the challenge is that they are surrounded by teammates standing 6’4” or taller. The 6’5” Chae Haynes, probably the strongest player in the league, scored on a lob from the 6’4” Bradley Swillie late in the second quarter. The two executed a similar play just after halftime for a 38-23 lead, putting Haynes on his way to a team-high 17 points.

Parker Kaech matched up best athletically with Life Christian, and they focused their defense on meeting him at the rim or before. He nevertheless scored 13 points, nine in the first half.

Bubba Douglas came up big in the opening minutes for the Fishermen, hitting a fade-away and a three and stuffing Haynes on a play as Ilwaco took an early 5-3 lead.

But the Eagles’ talent quickly proved too much. Their lead reached 58-27 on a slick move in the post by Maulana in the late third quarter.

Ilwaco’s Jaden Turner hit three three-pointers in the next three minutes, single-handedly creating a 9-2 Ilwaco run spanning the third and fourth quarters. Ilwaco trimmed the final margin to 19 as Whiting scored seven of his 11 points in the fourth quarter.