Wahluke girls still learning
Rodney Harwood/Sun Tribune - Wahluke's Kenya Valdovinos (25) finds tough going as she drives the lane against Goldendale defender Sara Heibert (32) during the season opener in Mattawa.
MATTAWA — Sometimes the energy level is all that matters when you’re at the bottom of the learning curve. The Wahluke girls stayed right there through the first quarter of their season opener with Goldendale.
But the Timberwolves (1-0) blew it open with 19 points in the second quarter in a runaway 55-20 nonleague victory. Wahluke (0-1) got a nice scoring night from Kenya Valdovinos, who led the Warriors with eight points, and Martha Barragan with seven points and six rebounds.
“Martha inside is our strength right now. She’s our only returning varsity player and we count on her a lot,” said Wahluke coach Joe Wirtzberger. “Today shows us we have some work to do, but I liked the energy we played with.
“We’re not great, but we’re going to get better every day and work hard. You have to take your moments and build on them.”
The Warriors trailed by four (11-7) after the first quarter, but the Timberwolves went on a six-point run with a couple of quick steals and an offensive bound to start the second quarter and capture the momentum. They blew it out to a 30-11 lead by the intermission.
Nelly Bravo finished with four points and five rebounds for the Warriors. Karla Gonzalez had a steal, two rebounds and scored one from the free-throw line.
“When you’re trying to change the culture, you build from the inside out,” Wirtzberger said. “We’re going to work hard and get better every day.”
Goldendale 11 19 9 16 - 55
Wahluke 7 4 6 3 - 20
Goldendale - Kelli Bighorn 16, Tiana Watson 7, Lene Riggers 2, Abby Hedges 1, Payton Sheridan 4, Leslie Smith 4, Delaney Peters 7, Sara Heibert 10, Madi Gilk 4. Totals: 22-54 6-28 55.
Wahluke - Nelly Bravo 4, Karla Gonzalez 1, Kenya Valdovinos 8, Martha Barragan 7. Totals: 6-30 8-26 20.
Highland 61, Wahluke 9 (Saturday)
Box score
W — 2 3 0 4 9
H — 19 15 10 17 61