Cougars fall to Naches Valley in season opener
Warden senior Anthony Gutierrez (3) attempts to lay the ball in to the basket during Thursday’s game against Naches Valley.
IAN BIVONA/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Warden junior Eli Cox (5) drives toward the basket in the first half against Naches Valley on Thursday. Cox scored 14 points in the game.
Ian Bivona serves as the Columbia Basin Herald’s sports reporter and is a graduate of Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. He enjoys the behind-the-scenes stories that lead up to the wins and losses of the various sports teams in the Basin. Football is his favorite sport, though he likes them all, and his favorite team is the Jets. He lives in Soap Lake with his cat, Honey. | December 9, 2024 1:40 AM
WARDEN — Thursday night’s season-opening basketball game between Warden and Naches Valley saw the Rangers take advantage of Cougar miscues down the stretch of the fourth quarter, dropping Warden to 0-1 with a 74-62 loss.
The Cougars trailed by 19 entering the fourth quarter but stormed back to cut the Naches Valley lead to 66-58 with just over two minutes left — however, turnovers down the stretch allowed the Rangers to walk away with a 74-62 win over the Cougars.
Senior Anthony Gutierrez led the way with 35 points for the Cougars, followed by junior Eli Cox with 14 and senior Elijah Ruiz with nine.
Check out Tuesday’s edition of the Columbia Basin Herald for a full story on the game, including Gutierrez scoring his 1,000th career point.
Warden junior Eli Cox (5) drives toward the basket in the first half against Naches Valley on Thursday. Cox scored 14 points in the game.