Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Oakesdale boys
Oakesdale junior Wesley Castanon goes up against Pomeroy's Hogan Heytvelt for a rebound Jan. 6 in a 51-44 loss.
The unbeaten Pomeroy boys arrived at Oakesdale Saturday evening, Jan. 6 and suited up to try to extend their streak against the Nighthawks (9-3, 4-2).
With Pirates’ junior guard Jace Gwinn on the bench in streetclothes and a knee brace – the fourth-would-be returning starter from last year’s team that finished fifth in state – Pomeroy warmed up with last year’s Southeast 1B Player of the Year Jacob Tewalt and a band of returners, including seniors Oscar Morfin, Ryan Wolf and Hogan Heytvelt.
How good is this team without Gwinn? Was he the solid contributor they lost, which takes them from a possible state championship-contender down to a good team that will run through the Southeast 1B league but find problems in March?
It was too early, too presumptuous to ask these questions.
The game began and Pomeroy built an 18-3 lead.
In the second quarter, Oakesdale switched from a man-to-man defense to a zone trap.
Things started to change, the Nighthawks cutting the lead to three points by halftime.
“It was good for our guys to buckle down, find a way to get back in the game,” said fourth-year Oakesdale coach Carl Crider. “We just kept them uncomfortable.”
The second half began and Oakesdale quickly cut the lead to one.
Then a three-pointer from Matt Hocket at the top of the key gave Oakesdale the lead, 25-23.
Pomeroy responded.
Two three-pointers from Devon Caruso put the Pirates back up 34-27 with 50 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Starting the fourth, they held the lead, but where was Tewalt?
He was quiet – until he caught a pass on the wing, leapt and banked-in a three-pointer for 44-35 with 3:12 left.
Oakesdale countered, though, keeping the outcome in doubt as Kieran Anderson hit a three-pointer to cut the lead back to six before the Nighthawks got a steal. Oakesdale freshman Kit Hockett then drew a charging call against Caruso.
But Tewalt was there again for Pomeroy – driving the baseline for 46-38 with 1:28 left. The Pirates’ Kyson Fruh, another senior, followed with a five-foot shot to seal the win, 51-44.
Wolf led Pomeroy scorers in the game with 12 points while Heytvelt had 10 and Tewalt eight.
Jacob Himes led Oakesdale with 13 points and Evan Henning and Kieron Anderson both scored eight.
Oakesdale also has losses to Garfield/Palouse (Dec. 8) – a game they led by 12 points at halftime – and non-league Liberty Christian, now 2B, on a night which Oakesdale had just seven players in uniform. Three of their top seven were out, one ineligible and two sick.
The young Nighthawks team has no seniors on the roster.
Veteran starters which finished sixth in the district last year are juniors Anderson, Jacob Himes, Wesley Castanon and Evan Henning. Matt Hockett, a sophomore, rounds out the first five, who started several games last year as a freshman. Cal Gregory, a starter last year, transferred back to Colfax for his senior year.
“I think we have a lot of room for improvement,” Crider said. “And to find ways to get better over the last month of the season and hopefully peak at (district) tournament time.”
Oakesdale’s potential comes in the fourth year since the break-up of the 30-year Tekoa/Oakesdale sports cooperative in 2014.
With Tekoa now playing in the 2B ranks as the Tekoa-Rosalia Timberwolves, Oakesdale – with the second smallest enrollment of Washington state high schools — ventured forth in uncertainty.
How uncertain was all this?
“Our numbers are tight, but seem to be alright, and we got some good athletes,” said Crider. “I guess we’re surviving pretty well.”
Many of the young names on the Oakesdale roster are players Crider coached when he ran the junior high program for five years before taking over as head coach from Ken Lindgren, who switched over to coach the girls.
The Nighthawks will play next at home Friday against Colton (2-9, 1-4). Tip-off is 7:30 p.m.
BOYS RESULTS
Pomeroy 57, Garfield/Palouse 47
The Vikings traveled to Pomeroy Jan. 5 to decide who would take on a first league loss and the Pirates avoided it, winning on the strength of 22 points from Tewalt and 13 from Wolf.
Heytvelt added nine points.
Blake Jones led Gar/Pal (6-2, 3-1) in the loss with 13 points while Daniel Orfe had nine and Tanner Anderson eight.
Colton 52,
St. John/Endicott/
LaCrosse 34
A game-high 21 points and 15 rebounds from Matt Wolf helped Colton beat the Eagles at home Jan. 5. Reece Chadwick added 16 points and Parker Druffel scored 12 and Jon Bean pulled down eight rebounds.
Griffin Parrish and Talon Danielson led S.J.E.L., both with eight points.
Colton was scheduled to play Waitsburg the next night, Jan. 6, but the game was postponed due to Waitsburg not being able to field a full varsity team.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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