With recent wins, Wahluke boys top last year's win total

MATTAWA - Wahluke High School's victories over Warden and Connell in boys basketball just before the Christmas break had greater significance than mere wins.

They were milestones that have the Warriors smiling.

The twin wins gave Wahluke three for the season, one better than all of last year. They gave the Warriors a .500 record, which they never approached all of last year, and the Connell result gave them a 1-0 start in the South Central A Conference West.

"Believe me, the boys know they are 1-0, and they are excited," coach Cody Marlow said.

Marlow hopes that excitement is converted to improvement. His Warriors will play tonight and tomorrow night at Moses Lake Christian.

The win over Warden, 46-45, didn't come easily. Senior 6-2 post Jared Sabin secured it with a lay-in and a free throw with three seconds left.

The Warriors were sluggish in the first half and Warden was hot. The Cougars led 31-19 at intermission.

Warrior sophomore sharp-shooter Oscar Onofre exploded for eight points in the third quarter to ignite a comeback. Wahluke won the second half, 27-14, and the game.

Onofre finished the game with 14 points to lead the team. Sabin had a big night under the rim with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Jordan Zirker, Saul Juarez and Dario Prudente scored five points each. Johnny Abarca and Rafael Mendoza had two each.

Surprisingly, the Connell victory came relatively easy, 56-40. But Marlow wasn't complaining.

"We hadn't beaten Connell in quite some time," he said. "This was a huge victory for us."

Once again, the Warriors were led by the Onofre-Sabin tandem. Onofre scored 14 points and Sabin 13. Close behind was Juarez with 12.

Prudente, another sophomore, scored nine points. Abarca had four, Zirker three and Edgar Ledesma one.