Warrior boys stop Ki-Be in hoops

MATTAWA - The Wahluke boys went into weekend SCAC basketball action looking for their first win, and they got it at Kiona-Benton on Saturday, 67-59, with a big fourth quarter explosion.

KiBe led 43-39 at the end of the third quarter in a back and forth game. Then the Warrior press was kicked into high gear as Eduardo Ponce came off the bench and forced three steals.

Taking advantage of a change in momentum, Collin Ahmann hit 15 points in the quarter and Oscar Onofre added 10. The Warriors won the frame, 28-16, and the game.

"KiBe is playing great basketball and had just lost the night before by seven at first-place River View," coach Jeff Ahmann noted.

The warriors were hoping to break the miserable shooting slump that has plagued them all season. They started out slow and trailed KiBe, 19-11, at the end of the first period.

But in the second quarter the defense came alive and turned Ki-Be turnovers into buckets, scoring 15 points in the quarter to trail only 27-26 at half-time.

Onofre led the scoring with 23 points. Collin Ahmann added 18, and Jose Espindola scored 11.

Friday at Warden, things were going great as the Warriors led 12-10 at the end of the first quarter and stretched the lead to 29-24 at the half. Wahluke still led, 41-37, to start the fourth period.

But in the fourth quarter, Warrior shooting went cold. Only one player scored for the Warriors, Jose Espindola with eight points. Warden reeled off 19 points to win 56-49.

Espindola led the scoring with 19 points. Alan Caro added 10. Onofre and Ahmann were held to six and four points respectively.