Big quarters at the start of both halves led to Hoquiam defeating North Beach 68-28 on Friday in Hoquiam.

The Grizzlies (3-1) outscored the Hyaks (0-3) 21-3 in the first quarter paced by 11 points from junior Zander Jump.

After a close second quarter that saw the Grizzlies edge North Beach by a point at 16-15, Hoquiam responded with a 23-2 third quarter to put the game away.

“We started off really strong … but didn’t have a very good second quarter,” said Hoquiam head coach Jeff Niemi, who offered some insight into the Hoquiam coaching staff’s halftime speech. “We basically talked about whoever is on the floor, we are executing our system and going to keep the energy up. … We really answered the challenge in the third quarter.”

Hoquiam senior forward Justice Stankavich erupted for 15 of his team-high 19 points in the third period to lead the Grizzlies.

Jump finished with 15 points and six rebounds while senior guard Michael Lorton Watkins had 13 points.

Hoquiam hit 29-of-58 (50%) shots from the field, including 4-of-11 (36%) from the 3-point line.

The Grizzlies defense recorded 25 steals — led by Jake Templer (7), Owen McNeill (5) and Timmy Higgins (5) — and grabbed 38 rebounds as a team, 16 on the offensive glass.

“I told ‘em I’d love to not give up 30 tonight and we held them to 28,” Niemi said. “So I was pretty darn happy about that.”

North Beach was led by senior Aiden Niiranen and junior Tyrell Hovland with seven and six points, respectively.

Hoquiam faces Aberdeen in a Myrtle Street Rivalry game set for 7 p.m. Monday at Sam Benn Gym in Aberdeen.

North Beach hosts Ocosta at 7 p.m. Monday.

North Beach 3 15 2 8 — 28

Hoquiam 21 16 23 8 — 68

Scoring: NB — Niiranen 7, Eastman 6, Hovland 5, J. Charley 5, K. Charley 3, Johnson 2. H — Stankavich 19, Jump 15, Lorton Watkins 13, McNeill 6, Wonderly-Leonard 5, Atwell 2, Empler 2, Gordon 2, Houcket 2, Higgins 1, Monroe 1.

Aberdeen 67, Centralia 62

Aberdeen picked up its first win of the season with a 67-62 victory over Centralia on Friday in Centralia.

The Bobcats (1-2, 1-1 2A Evergreen) held a slim 27-25 lead at the half but fell behind 50-48 after the two teams combined for 46 points in the third quarter.

Aberdeen’s defense held Centralia to 12 points in the fourth quarter to pick up the five-point victory.

Junior guard Manny Garcia had a big game for the Bobcats, scoring 27 points on 11-for-22 (50%) shooting, including five 3-pointers, to go along with six rebounds.

Senior Kale Goings added 15 points and six rebounds while junior Baylor Ainsworth had eight points, seven rebounds and four steals for the Bobcats.

“I’m blessed to have some good, hard-working players and good coaches,” new Aberdeen head coach Brandyn Brooks said of his first varsity win. “It feels like the monkey is off my back and now we can have fun and keep learning and growing as a team.”

Aberdeen hit 27-of 67 (43%) shots from the field, doing most of its damage from inside the 3-point line, shooting 20-of-40 (50%) on 2-point field goals.

The Bobcats also rebounded well, grabbing 39 boards as a team, with four players snatching at least five rebounds in the contest.

“I think we improved in running our offense and taking the correct shots,” Brooks said. “But we also improved defensively and in rebounding. We didn’t give them a whole lot of second chances like we did in the previous two games.”

Aberdeen hosts Tenino at 7 p.m. on Saturday in a non-league matchup.

Aberdeen 14 13 21 19 — 67

Centralia 14 11 25 12 — 62

Scoring: A — M. Garcia 27, Goings 15, Ainsworth 8, Anderson 4, Ambrogiani 3, Walsh 3, Dawson 2, Brooks 2, Springer 2, Baker 1. C— Vallejo 17, Wasson 14, Sprague 13, Ballard 9, Haines 6, Yeung 3.

Willapa Valley 48, Pe Ell 32

After a close first half, Willapa Valley took control of the game in the third quarter to defeat Pe Ell 48-32 on Friday at Pe Ell High School.

The Vikings (3-0, 2-0 1B Columbia Valley) led 20-16 at the break and outscored the Trojans (1-2, 0-2) 19-4 in the third quarter to take a commanding 39-20 lead heading to the final period.

According to Vikings head coach Jay Pearson, Willapa Valley turned the game around by playing better defense and via the interior passing of senior forward Garrett Keeton.

“His interior passing in the third quarter against their zone was kind of what swung the game for us,” Pearson said of Keeton. “His passing kind of picked them apart.”

Keeton had six assists to go along with nine rebounds, which Pearson said was also a factor in the game.

“Once we packed the paint and gave up one shot then rebound, they couldn’t score,” he said.

Senior Wil Clements led Valley with 19 points while grabbing four rebounds.

Derek Fluke (14 points, 8 rebounds) and Riley Pearson (11 pts.) also scored in double figures for the Vikings.

Willapa Valley faces Firm Foundation Christian in a league matchup at 6 p.m on Tuesday in Menlo.

Willapa Valley 11 9 19 9 — 48

Pe Ell 10 6 4 12 — 32

Other scores

Northwest Christian 57, Wishkah Valley 11

Oakville 89, North River 36 (Thursday)