In the end, Aberdeen’s boys rang out the old year with their glass more than half full.
Dominating the final 10 minutes of the first half, the Bobcats easily survived an undistinguished second half for a 57-40 victory over Elma in a non-league boys basketball game at Sam Benn Gym.
This was the final pre-league contest for both Harbor teams. And both saw both encouraging and discouraging signs, depending on which half they were viewing.
Quickly shifting from a man-to-man to a pressing, trapping zone defense, the Bobcats forced 17 Elma turnovers in the first half. Knocking down six 3-point baskets in that half, they led by as many as 28 before settling for a 36-16 halftime advantage.
The third quarter in particular, however, proved to be a reprise of the second-half woes Aberdeen (2-7) has suffered through most of December. Shoring up their ball-handling and attacking the basket well, the less experienced Eagles (1-11) trimmed the deficit to 13 and had a few good looks at 3-point shots that could have made matters very interesting.
After shooting 43 percent from the field in the first half, Aberdeen hit at only a 23 percent clip after the break.
Small wonder that AHS coach Mark Buckman sounded a cautionary note in his post-game comments.
“We certainly needed this win going into league play,” Buckman said. “But, unfortunately, we had another third quarter similar to what we’ve been having. If we continue to do this, it’s going to be very difficult for us in league.”
Making a homecoming of sorts (he coached Aberdeen’s girls basketball team last year), Elma coach Jeff Niemi was encouraged by his team’s second-half showing. Although the Bobcats maintained their press through most of the second half, the Eagles committed only four turnovers in the final two periods.
“I think a couple of steals snowball for us and that’s (been the case) all year,” Niemi said. “I think it goes with being a young team and that’s the single biggest thing we have to clean up going into league.”
Each team had only one player score in double figures.
Senior guard Alonzo Coburn paced the Bobcats with 12 points. Aberdeen’s Jeshua Manwell barely missed a double-double with nine rebounds and 10 rebounds, while Dayln Barragan came off the bench to score all nine of his points in the second quarter.
Barragan had a 3-point basket and a couple of breakaway layins off steals in a 26-2 run that enabled the Bobcats to build a a 36-8 bulge late in the first half. Austin Timmons, another reserve, canned a couple of threes and starter Javier Bojorge the majority of his four steals during that span.
Junior guard Carter Jacobson topped Elma with 10 points. The Eagles received a lift from Cobey Moore, a 5-foot-11 freshman who was making his second start since being promoted from the junior varsity. Moore checked in with eight points and nine rebounds.
Cody Vollan contributed eight rebounds and four assists for Elma.
The Eagles make the long trek to Forks on Tuesday. The Bobcats open Evergreen 2A conference play at Tumwater on Wednesday.
Elma 6 10 11 13 — 40
Aberdeen 14 22 8 13 — 57
Elma (40) — Jacobson 10, Johnston, Vollan 6, Schneider 3, Moore 8, Aho, Billerback, Acuff 6, Swint 3, Richey 1, Huttula 3. FG — 16-46 (.348). FT — 5-11.
Aberdeen (57) — Manwell 9, Bojorge 4, Dublanko 6, Coburn 12, Shale 2, Barragan 9, Sidor, Sayres 4, Pisani 5, Timmons 6, Elrod. FG — 22-66 (.333). FT—5-9.
JV — Aberdeen 49, Elma 37. Nick Farrer 13 points for Aberdeen. Josiah Jones 14 for Elma.
C squad — Aberdeen 48, Elma 47. Robert Solomon 14 points for Aberdeen.
