Wolves reach semifinals at SunDome
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
The Timberwolves began their defense of the SCAC west title against Mabton on Tuesday night. Results from the varsity match weren’t available by press time, but the junior varsity won close sets 25-11, 26-24, and 25-19. The team is back in action on Thursday at Granger.
SunDome Festival
Last Saturday, the Wolves tested their game against a number of larger schools at the SunDome Festival in Yakima, reaching the semifinals after placing second in pool play. The format for the festival began with round-robin play among four teams, with two sets per match. Others in the pool were Davis, a 4A team, North Central of Spokane, a 3A team, and 2A Othello.
Goldendale split with Davis and North Central and swept Othello 2-0. Bracket play pitted all of the second place pool teams into single elimination competition.
The Timberwolves rolled over fellow 1A team, Castle Rock in their first set, 25-18, then fought off three set points to win 32-30. Goldendale gave 4A Southridge all they could handle before bowing out in three sets, 25-17, 18-25, 15-11.
Nikki Williams received 30 percent of the serves for Goldendale in the tournament, with just two errors. She also led the team with 39 digs. Kylee Bellamy set up 61 kills, with Sydney Bloom putting down 24 and hannah Swigart notching 22 kills.
Ki-Be Jamboree
Earlier last week, Goldendale had little trouble dominating Connell, Cle Elum, and Ki-Be in the Kiona-Benton Festival. Cle Elum was the only team that pushed the Timberwolves, losing 25-22 and 25-19. Ki-Be fell 25-11 and 25-9, while Connell dropped a pair of 25-13 sets.
Bloom and Swigart led the way again with 17 and 16 kills, respectively. Ashley Barrett logged eight kills and Lexi Cameron had eight digs.
Flag keeps Cougars from upsetting Dufur
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
Opening against two of Oregon’s top teams was a tough row to hoe for Lyle-Klickitat-Wishram, whose 0-2 record doesn’t begin to tell the story of how well they play football. Yes, a loss is a loss, but from the moment Henry Matai broke lose on a 90-yard third quarter touchdown run to the Ty Freemantle kickoff return for an apparent touchdown, it felt like LKW owned the second half and most likely Friday’s game against Dufur. A yellow flag lying on the 30 yard line said otherwise, and despite a valiant final effort, Dufur escaped with a 24-22 win.
There were few highlights in the first half, as each team tried to run the ball with limited success. A fourth down Dufur pass led to the only score of the first quarter. The PAT failed, as did all four Dufur attempts in the game.
Jeromie Mason picked off a pass in the second quarter, but LKW couldn’t sustain a drive. On the next possession, Dufur ground out a 68 yard drive for six more points to lead 12-0 at the half.
It didn’t take long for the game to switch from plodding to wide open. Henry Matai took the second half kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and bulled his way in for a two-point conversion.
Dufur drove right back to go up 18-8 with just 2:20 gone from the third quarter.
But Lyle knew they were in the game and Mason ripped off a 42-yard carry on first down from his own nine-yard line. That drive would stall, but LKW was winning the battle of field position. Dufur was three and out and shanked a punt to their own 27 yard line.
On first down, Matai turned the corner and streaked down the left sideline for a 27 yard touchdown. Freemantle converted the PAT and it was 18-16 for Dufur.
LKW’s defense held again and the Cougars started from their own 26. It was Matai again on the same play as the touchdown run, taking the ball to midfield on first down. Pass interference on Dufur took it to the 33 yard line, but a miscue on a reverse resulted in a fumble recovered by Dufur to end the third quarter.
The Rangers didn’t keep the ball long, as quarterback Steven Begay tried to throw back across the field late and Mason picked it off in full stride, rumbling to the four-yard line. Two plays later, Matai had his third touchdown, but a pass attempt fell short on the conversion and LKW led 22-18.
Dufur ate up most of the final quarter on a drive deep into Cougar territory. But the Cougars held their ground on a great defensive stand, taking over at their one-yard line with less than five minues left in the game.
An unusual call for aiding a runner was called to nullify an eight-yard Mason sneak, and LKW opted to punt the ball from their one-yard line, giving the Rangers a shot with about three minutes left. After missing on a pass left, Begay hooked up on the right side with Cody Frischman for a 21-yard touchdown pass on third down.
Freemantle took the ensuing kickoff 88 yards, but a yellow flag for illegal block shut down the euphoria and the Cougar’s chance for a big win.
Another good Oregon team, North Powder visits Lyle this Friday at 7 p.m.
Dufur 6 6 6 6 24
LKW 0 0 16 6 22
Individual Statistics
LKW- Rushing, Matai 11-86, Freemantle 11-25, Mason 5-41.
Passing, Mason 1-9-2-16.
Solo tackles, Matai 10, Price 6, Mason 4, Eiesland 4
Goldendale soccer opens with Royal tie
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
A much improved Goldendale girls soccer team earned a 1-1 tie in their season opener against Royal last week. Irene Goble came through in the 48th minute with the tying goal and the club held the Knights at bay to the end. Hailey Darnielle was stellar at goal, turning away 18 shots, and Traci Bailey put pressure on Royal at the other end of the field.
The improvement in Goldendale’s offense and middle field play puts the club in position to log a couple of wins in this their second year of varsity play. The balanced game was demonstrated on the field against Warden, Saturday. The Cougars won the match 6-2, but shots on goal were more equal at 14-10 for Warden, and Goldendale proved they could score on a decent SCAC team.
Traci Bailey scored her first goal of the year early in the second half to make the score 3-1. Her second came in the waning minutes of the game to make the score 5-2. The Cougars’ Barbara Horta, an all-star last year, kicked her fourth goal of the game to ice it at the 70 minute mark.
The Timberwolves traveled to Union Gap to play LaSalle on Tuesday, and host the Kiona-Benton Bears on Thursday at 4 p.m.
Goldendale 1 Royal 1
Scoring
Katrina Werlinger (R) 9:00, Irene Goble (G) (Hailey Hudson) 48:00
Saves
Hailey Darnielle 18, Dani Callahan 18.
Warden 6 Goldendale 2
Scoring
Genisus Mendoza (W) 2:00, Barbara Horta (W) 5:00, Horta (W) 26:00, Traci Bailey (G) 43:00, Yeni Estrada (W) 56:00, Horta (W) 65:00, Bailey (G) 68:00, Horta (W) 70:00.
Saves
Juanita Gonzales (W) 8, Hailey Darnielle (G) 8.
Game plan solidifying for Bickleton volleyball
Starting the season with a five set match is somewhat ideal, particularly if you win. Such was the case for Bickleton’s Pirate volleyball team last week. The Pirates traveled to Lyle and eked out a win in a very competitive match, 25-23, 19-25, 25-19, 19-25, 15-11.
Aside from a few too many service errors, new Coach Kim Clinton was very pleased with her team. “The girls were disciplined to stick with out philosophy and as a result, we played some very good volleyball.”
There were some bright spots, even from the serve line. Junior, Holly Goodnight, picked up where she left off last year, serving aces. She logged seven against the Cougars, as deciding factor in the third set.
A welcome addition to the scoring line-up was Aymie Osborne, a freshman who Coach Clinton described as the “main hitter for the night.”
Katelynn Clinton played a solid game with her passing and scored points from off the net.
Replacing last year’s prime setter, Ilsa Chappel was a main concern for Coach Clinton. Emerging to fill that role is junior, Morgan McBride. McBride is the team captain and Clinton credits her for being “physically and mentally on for the match.
Bickleton vs Mabton JV
Two days following the opener Bickleton headed north to Mabton to face the junior varsity team. Another close match was played and the Pirates moved to 2-0 on the year with a 25-19, 25-20, 26-24 match win.
Bickleton had three eighth graders on the floor during the crucial third set. The experience and depth will be important if Bickleton is to make a run at placing higher in the league this year.
McBride had another good game setting the ball, as did Dede Kibby. Clinton became more involved in the Pirate attack, dishing out eight kills, and two blocks at the net.
Bickleton played the LaSalle junior varsity on Tuesday and have four other matches to prepare themselves for the season opener against Klickitat on Oct. 3.
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