Defense key to ACH boys state basketball round two win

WENATCHEE — The Almira-Coulee/Hartline Warriors used a stifling defense to take a decisive 69-34 win over the Ocosta Wildcats in the second round of the Class 1B boys state basketball tournament Friday at Wenatchee High School.  

ACH held Ocosta to less than 10 points in the second and third quarters, and coach Graham Grindy said defense was the key. 

ACH took a 12-7 lead halfway through the first quarter and never trailed after that, leading 14-10 at the end of the first quarter and 30-17 at the half. That was despite a cold shooting spell in the second quarter. 

“We did a good job defensively,” Grindy said. “We started out pretty good offensively, we were able to score out of a couple sets, but then we just didn’t really have a good flow going.”  

The offensive effort was complicated by some first-half foul trouble. 

“I always tell the guys you have to adjust to the way the game is being called. It’s not going to be the other way around,” Grindy said. “We picked up some quick ones – my better players picked up some early ones. On the flip side of that though, they responded really well to it and didn’t get frustrated, you could tell. They stayed out of foul trouble for the rest of the game.” 

The Warriors got in the flow in the second half, outscoring Ocosta 20-6 in the third quarter, an offensive run aided by three-point baskets from Josh Booker, Carter Pitts, Max Grindy and Caiden Correia. The coach said the improved offense was a tribute to the Warrior defense. 

“Our defense definitely gets our offense going. I think even coming out in the second half with a little full court pressure kind of got us going and got our offense going,” he said. “That’s the way we’ve been designed, because in my mind, your defense should always be there. If you depend on your offense – that's tough. Guys get tight. They get upset because the shots aren’t falling. Defense just takes work, dedication, communication, those things. We worked hard tonight.”  

The work the team put in showed, he said. 

“I thought we communicated really well defensively. Our energy was great. We shared the ball on offense; multiple guys hit shots. It was a team effort,” Grindy said. “That’s kind of how we’ve played all year – and when we’re doing that, (we’re) pretty tough. It’s just a fun style of basketball to play. Everybody enjoys it. It was fun.” 

The Warriors advance to the state quarterfinals Thursday at the Spokane Arena. Their opponent will be determined in the round of 12 on Wednesday.  

Box score 

ACH: 14-16-20-19 69
OCO: 10-7-6-11  34 

    ACH’s Brody Pitts (24) guards Ocosta’s Luis Solis. Coach Graham Grindy said defense was key to the Warriors’ 69-34 win.
  

    Max Grindy of ACH makes a move for the basket.
  

    Max Grindy (25) goes up for the shot during Almira-Coulee/Hartline’s win over Ocosta.
  

    ACH’s Brody Pitts (24) pushes the ball up the lane.
  

 

    Caiden Correia (32) heads for the basket in ACH’s win in the second round of the state tournament.