Willapa Valley boys basketball

Vikings clip Hawks 59-51, advance to state quarterfinals

CHEHALIS — Viking junior guard Blane King (10) hit three buzzer beaters en route to a game-high 20 points and eight rebounds to lead Willapa Valley to 59-51 opening round win over Tulalip Heritage tonight (Friday, Feb. 28), in the second round of the WIAA 1B State Basketball Tournament at W.F. West High School.

It was the 22nd straight win for #3-seed Willapa Valley (22-2), who next advance to the state quarterfinals, where they will face the winner of #12-seed Garfield Palouse vs #5-seed Neah Bay on March 6 at the Spokane Arena.

The Vikings and Hawks battled for three periods — including more than 10 lead changes in the first half — before a put back from junior Brody Ritzman (1) gave the Willapa Valley a lead (37-35) in the third that they would never relinquish. 

Viking junior guard Blane King (10) sank his third buzz-beater to close the third, with Willapa Valley ahead (43-40).

In the final period, baskets from King (10), senior Nathan Fluke (2), junior JB Russell (14) gave Willapa Valley breathing room as they closed out the Hawks 59-51. 

Pe Ell girls basketball

WENATCHEE — The #7-seed Pe Ell girls basketball team tasted defeat for the first time this season after falling to #2-seed Waterville-Mansfield 59-18 in the second round of districts on March 1, at Wenatchee High School.

The Trojans (21-1) fall to the loser bracket following the loss, where the they will next face #10-seed Oakdale is a loser-out matchup on March 5 at the Spokane Area.

Willapa Valley girls basketball

COULEE CITY — The #19-seed Willapa Valley girls basketball season came to an end in the first round of the WIAA 1B state basketball tournament following a 58-22 loss to #14-seed Almire Coulee Hartline on Feb. 25 at ACH High School.

The Vikings made the more than five-hour trip to start their state run after finishing fourth in the district and second in league play, with an overall record of 13-12.

Willapa Valley will lose two players to graduation, including Alana Neva (24) and Addison Merkel (34).

In their opening round game against the Warriors, junior Lauren Matlock (12) scored the opening basket, taking an early 2-0 lead before things began to unravel for the away team.

Willapa Valley struggled to convert in the first four minutes, as ACH quickly built a 14-4 lead through the first period.

In the second period, Willapa Valley’s shooting woes continued as the Vikings went the first five minutes without a bucket, as the Warrior lead swelled to 25-4 before a deep three-pointer from freshmen Tylar Keeton (32) stopped the bleeding.

A balanced ACH team team kept the pressure on Willapa Valley in the third period, extending their lead to 48-15 before ending with a 58-22 first-round win.