Monroe champion at Connell Invitational
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
Billy Monroe put together three straight wins to take the championship of the 215 pound division at last Saturday's Connell Invitational.
Monroe, who is slated to wrestle in the 171 pound division by districts, put away Luis Beltran, of Ki-Be with a pin, leaving 18 seconds on the clock in round two. He made quicker work of Jose Aparicio, of Chelan with a pin in 1:45 of round one. Warden's Matt DeLeon fought off four near falls, but went down in points 13-2 in the championship match. Monroe pinned DeLeon in Thursday's dual meet at River View.
Kurt Wilkins was the only other Timberwolf in the championship battle, but Nolin Bare, Torey Spaulding-Jimenez and Braydon Ross were top five winners.
Wilkins also pinned his first two opponents, Josh Agripino, of Naches Valley in 2:46, and Garrett Whitney, of Kahlotus in 2:48. The Whitney pin was unusual as Wilkins was down 2-0 and while unable to escape from a leg hold, he was able to reach back and press Whitney, who refused to let go of the leg, to the mat for the pin. His championship match was a rematch with Dakota Scott, who defeated Wilkins at River View. All of the scoring came in the first round. Scott scored a take down, but Wilkins tied on a reversal, only to be reversed himself. Scott rode the 4-2 lead through the next two rounds for the title.
Sophomores Bare and Ross were outstanding in their matches, losing in the semi-finals and out-pointing their opponents in the battles for third place. Bare had to win two matches to get to the semi-final at 152 pounds. He began by out-powering Alex Myrick, of Royal to a 17-5 win. The second match with Justin St. Clair, of River View was closer up to the point of Bare's pin with 18.9 seconds left in the final round. A more experienced Kenny Sullivan, of Warden got the best of Bare in the semi-final 13-2. Damien DeLarosa, of Royal cut into Bare's lead with a third round reversal, but Bare escaped and took down the Knight to seal a 7-3 win in the battle for third place.
Ross scored a 2:32 pin in his opening match, but was pinned in the semifinal by Mychel Salverson, of Lake Roosevelt in a very tough, back and forth match. Each wrestler scored take downs, reversals and near falls. Salverson scored the pin with 56 seconds left in the match and a 16-13 lead. Ross was too strong and quick for Brandon DeChiara, of Liberty Christian, winning third place 7-4. Spaulding-Jimenez had to defeat Cody Johns, of Naches Valley twice for fifth place. Johns was over-whelmed 13-4 in the first match, but gave the Timberwolf a go in the battle for fifth. Spaulding-Jimenez scored the first take down, but sustained a bloody nose in the process which slowed him down. Johns tied the match with a second period take down, but couldn't keep Spaulding-Jimenez there and an escape before the end of the round proved to be the winner in a 3-2 match. Other Timberwolves who saw action were Zach Shattuck, Zack Smith, Marcos Sanchez, and Kirk Giese. Shattuck and Smith lost their two matches and Sanchez was 1-2 with a win over Dakota Renz, of Ki-Be. Giese lost both of his matches, his final a spirited match against Josh Saylor, of Cascade Christian. Giese scored a reversal at the end of the second round to tie the match at 5-5, but eventually lost 7-6. Another wrestler who had success in exhibition was Austin Jones. Jones was an extra man at 152 pounds, putting him in three exhibition matches. Jones was pinned in the first, but came back and pinned his next two opponents in the second round. Also wrestling was Jessica Carr in the girls' tournament where she lost ot Araceli Cuevas, of Warden on a third round pin.
Clinton scores 1,000th point, Pirates at 5-0
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
Bickleton school took time out prior to Saturday's game against Lyle-Wishram to honor Katelynn Clinton, who scored her 1,000th point against Riverside Christian JV, a week ago. Clinton, a sophomore, has been playing varsity basketball at Bickleton since the eighth grade. She not only played as an eighth grader, but she was leading scorer on the team that year and ever since. Her current point total is 1,103.
Bickleton went on to defeat the Cougars 43-37. Clinton and Aymie Osborne each scored 16 points. Brianna Brock led the Cougars with 10 points. Treane Wells and Karlee Roth each scored nine.
Earlier in the week, Bickleton defeated Mabton JV 50-44 and Zillah's C squad 53-31. Clinton had 21 first half points against Mabton and finished with 29 points and 15 rebounds. Star Kibby scored six points and had seven steals while Morgan McBride pulled down nine rebounds. At Zillah, Clinton scored 31 and had 10 rebounds. Jamie Venema had 11 rebounds.
Pirate Boys
The season hasn't gone as well for the boys' team. While the ladies are 5-0, the young, boys' team is 0-5 following losses to Mabton JV, 45-25, Zillah C squad 53-34, and Lyle-Wishram 68-17. The three games in three nights tested the Pirates who are learning the system with a line-up that often features three freshmen. Oddly enough, Coach John Jensen was most pleased with the way his team played in the lopsided game against Lyle-Wishram.
"We played with a lot of energy and worked the ball around and tried to go inside with some success. They (the Cougars) are a very good team. We just need to keep moving in the right direction and games like this one help us."
Justin Roberts and Edgar Molina shared the scoring lead with eight points each against Mabton. Molina dropped in 17 and had 16 rebounds against Zillah and led the Pirates with eight points against Lyle-Wishram.
Bickleton plays Kiona-Benton's C squad on Thursday and LaSalle JV on Friday before taking a break until Jan. 8, when things get tough against Sunnyside Christian.
Timberwolves crush SCAC east opponents
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
The Goldendale boys' basketball team continued a perfect start to the season with blow out victories over Royal, Wahluke and Warden last week. The 5-0 start is the best of Coach Jay Thacker's four years at Goldendale. The team was to play their final game against SCAC east opponents on Tuesday, but weather made the game questionable. League play begins in Mabton on Friday.
Last Tuesday at Royal City, Goldendale was off to a ho-hum start, trailing at half-time 25-21. The second half was a different story as the Wolves held the Knights to just four points in each quarter as they cruised to a 55-33 win. Reed Lindhe led the way with 13 points.
Friday's game against Wahluke, in Goldendale was a showcase for the entire team with each player scoring in the 74-26 victory, led by Chase Wing's 19 points. The Timberwolves were 60 percent from the field and had just 14 turnovers for the game. Reed Lindhe, Zane MacRae and Wing each had six rebounds as the Wolves won the battle of the boards 37-21. For the second straight game, Goldendale's opponent scored fewer than 10 points in the second half.
Saturday's game at Warden was more of a contest, as the Cougars were as close as 35-27 at the end of the third quarter, only to lose 54-38. Lindhe scored 19 points and Kane Thiele added 13 and five assists. |
