Warrior boys start off 2-0 in hoops

MATTAWA - After one week of basketball, the Wahluke High School boys appear to be road warriors. They won the first two games away from home.

First to fall to the speedy, defensive-minded Warriors was Kittitas, 54-46. Goldendale fell, 59-55.

The Kittitas contest was the first game of the season for both teams. Both played aggressive basketball on both ends of the floor. Each team put full court pressure on the ball, which forced each team into more than 20 turnovers.

Wahluke lead from the beginning of the game, up 15-11 at the end of the first quarter and 33-19 at the half. Kittitas came out smoking in the third period. It hit six straight shots to tie the game at 39-39 before Wahluke pulled ahead for good. The Warriors outscored Kittitas, 15-7, to end the game.

The Warriors were led in scoring by the 13 points of Oscar Onofre. Alan Caro added 12, and Collin Ahmann had seven.

Others to score were Alex Chiprez 2, Librado Barajas 6, Saul Ramos 4, Tyus Squeochs 6 and Jose Espindola 4.

The trip to Goldendale Saturday evening was cold and icy over Satus Pass. The Warriors were just as cold for the first half. Goldendale could not have been hotter.

At one point, the Timberwolves hit on five of six 3-point field goals in the first half. They led at the end of the first period, 15-4, and extended the lead to 20 points in the second period.

Then Wahluke's Tyus Squeochs and Oscar Onofre hit 3-point shots, and Gabino Abarca knocked down two free throws to bring Wahluke to within 44-21 at the half.

In the third quarter, Alan Caro caught fire, accounting for 10 points in a 38-point Warrior second half.

The game was tight right down to the end, with Goldendale forced into the position of having to foul to stop the clock. Wahluke put the ball in the hands of its best free throw shooter, Squeochs, who iced the game, hitting 4-of-4 from the line in the final 30 seconds.

Alan Caro led Warrior scoring with 17 points. Onofre and Squeochs added 10 points each. Additional scoring for the Warriors was Ahmann 4, Barajas 6 and Espindola 8.