Wahluke drops home games, win on the road
Bob Kirkpatrick/The Sun Tribune - Jacky Barajas looks to inbound the ball over an outstretched Connell defender.
MATTAWA — Wahluke found the going rough on the home hardwood as both the boys and girls dropped games to Connell to open East Conference league play Friday. But the teams bounced back with road wins Saturday to even their records at 1-1.
The Lady Warriors had a rather difficult time against the Eagles in the first contest Friday night, falling 55-44 to Connell. Wahluke trailed 18-7 at the end of the first 12 minutes. The Warriors kept pace in the second quarter, but still trailed at the break 32-20. The second half of action was much tighter with Connell posting 21 points and Wahluke knocking down 20.
“Getting down so quickly made it difficult. We were pretty close to even after the first quarter, so the kids deserve some credit for kind of righting the ship,” coach Brock Anderson said. “But we made too many unforced errors — they got every loose ball and beat us to the basket too often. Connell is a good team and we’re not that far away. Martha Barragan gave us a big lift off the bench with 10 points.”
Kaylynn Holiday hit for 12 points for the home team. Martha Barragan added 9 and Jacky Hidalgo finished with 8. The Eagles Heather Hawkins led all scorers with 21 points. Teammate Madison Smith had 15.
Wahluke 48
Ki-Be 32
Wahluke bounced back with a 48-32 win over Kiona-Benton to even its league record at 1-1. The Warriors got out of the gate with a 13-7 first quarter lead and nearly double up the Bears 25-14 at intermission. Ki-Be kept it close in the second half, but Wahluke was able to hold the Bears off to come away with the victory.
“It was more difficult than it needed to be with the defensive breakdowns in the first and fourth quarters. Nonetheless it’s a league win and we did have a good stretch midway through the game,” Anderson said. “We are getting some pretty good looks at the basket, but need to convert more of those offensive opportunities. KK Holiday had a solid game with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Alex Bangs has been fantastic, hitting perimeter shots and playing some really inspired and aggressive defense as well.”
Boys
The Warriors Boys’ were looking to open league play with a win and extend their streak to five-straight, but Connell had another thing in mind as the Eagles picked up a 69-59 win on Wahluke’s home court Friday.
Connell led 18-8 at the end of the first quarter and took a 38-28 score into the locker room at the break. But the Warriors heated up in the second half to make a game of it.
Ricky Cabrera drained a game high 35 points. Sergio Pineda knocked down 18. Ridge Pauley pumped in 24 points to lead the way for Connell. Silas Chase finished with 21.
Wahluke 65
Ki-Be 60
Wahluke responded to Friday’s loss with a 65-60 win over the Ki-Be Bears in Benton City Saturday. Coach Clayton Buck has been unavailable for comment.
The Warriors opened up a four-game home stand beginning with River View on Tuesday, but the results from the action was not available by time of press.
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