Warriors win season opener Colin Ahmann hits 19

MATTAWA - Colin Ahmann scored 19 points Friday and Nathan Buck added 10 points to lead the Wahluke Warriors to a 56-51 boys prep basketball season-opening win over Warden.

It was a tight game all of the way with Warden winning the first quarter 11-8. The Warriors were outshot and outrebounded. They won with a sticky full court defense.

"Although Warden outshot us from the field 50-41 percent and outrebounded us 30-21, our defensive pressure forced enough turnovers that we were able get more shots from the field to squeak out a win," coach Jeffery Ahmann said.

Coach Ahmann noted both teams fielded almost entirely new personnel from last year. Colin Ahmann, a 6-3 junior, was the only returning varsity member for the Warriors.

"With only one returning varsity starter, other teams probably don't expect much because of our lack of experience," coach Ahmann said. "But they will expect us to play hard and compete every night because we always do, and this game showed that.

"Overall we did some good things, but we need to clean up a few things defensively to compete this year. But as hard as these kids work in practice everyday, and as eager as they are to improve, it is going to be a fun and successful year."

The Warriors will host Kittitas tonight and Cle Elum on Friday. They will travel to Goldendale on Saturday.