Oakesdale basketball top-10 in RPI

OAKESDALE - Both the Oakesdale boys and girls basketball programs are on fire early in 2024. The boys are undefeated in two games in the new year, where as the girls are 1-0.

The Nighthawk girls sit 7-1 on the season, with a 4-0 district record, tied for first with Sunnyside Christian. The girls also are ranked seventh in RPI for the 1B WIAA division.

The boys are 9-4 on the year, with a 4-1 district record, good for third, trailing undefeated Pomeroy and DeSales.

The Nighthawk boys are ninth in RPI, Pomeroy is fifth, and DeSales is seventh.

The girls had their only game of the week against the Dayton Bulldogs. The game was played on Saturday, Jan. 6, and took place in Dayton.

The game was over from the first quarter as Oakesdale allowed just 13 total points to win 65-13.

This is the second time this season the Nighthawks have held a team to 13 or less, the other was against the Tekoa-Rosalia Timberwolves, who also scored just 13 in the game.

The next game for the Nighthawks will be Friday, Jan. 12, as the Nighthawks take on the Pomeroy Pirates. The game will be played in Oakesdale, with tip-off set for 5 p.m.

The boys had two games this week, comfortably winning both.

The first game was against the St. John-Endicott/LaCrosse Eagles. The game took place on Friday, Jan. 5, and was played in St. John.

Oakesdale scored 16 points in the first quarter, 18 in the second, 17 in the third, and 12 in the fourth. They allowed nine total first half points from St. John to earn the 63-38 victory.

Will Lanius led the way with 16 total points for Oakesdale. He scored six in the first quarter, more than the Eagles scored as a team in that quarter. Ryker Reed followed closely with 15, and Emeric Anderson had 11.

The last game of the week for Oakesdale was against the Dayton Bulldogs. The game was played on Saturday, Jan. 6, and took place in Dayton.

The Nighthawks controlled the game, winning 57-23, a 34-point victory.

With the win, Oakesdale have won their last four games, and are 7-1 in their last eight games. The only loss in that stretch was against district-leading Pomeroy.

The next game for the Nighthawks will be played Friday, Jan. 12, against Pomeroy. The game will be played in Oakesdale, with tip-off set for 6:30 p.m.

The two teams have met earlier this season, with Pomeroy taking the 65-39 victory over Oakesdale. This time, the game will be played in Oakesdale, the Nighthawks will have home-court advantage.