Roundup: Turnovers costly in Hoquiam loss to Black Hills

Also: Raymond-South Bend beats North Beach in girls hoops; Grays Harbor College earns No. 1 ranking

By Ryan Sparks • December 20, 2023 7:00 am
PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Hoquiam’s Lexi LaBounty, left, drives to the basket against Black Hills’ Kiley McMahon during the Grizzlies’ 64-28 loss on Tuesday in Hoquiam.
PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Hoquiam’s Lexi LaBounty, left, drives to the basket against Black Hills’ Kiley McMahon during the Grizzlies’ 64-28 loss on Tuesday in Hoquiam.

Hoquiam’s girls hoops team struggled against Black Hills while the Grays Harbor College women’s wrestling team earned a No. 1 ranking as we review Tuesday’s local sports news.

GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL

Black Hills 64, Hoquiam 28

Hoquiam had no answers for Black Hills in a 64-28 loss on Tuesday at Hoquiam High School.

The Grizzlies (2-4) fell behind by 15 points at the end of one quarter and committed 29 turnovers in the game, a stat Hoquiam head coach Chad Allan said continues to be an issue for his team.

“Tonight we ran into a solid Black Hills team that is playing basketball as it should be. We had no answer for anything they threw at us,” he said. “This was a great preseason match up for us to use as measuring stick to how far we still need to go. Turnovers to start the opponent’s offense is still our number one issue.”

Hoquiam hit 9-of-30 shots from the field (30%) and was outrebounded 34-20.

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Hoquiam’s Nadine Stewart scored nine points to lead the Grizzlies during a 64-28 loss to Black Hills on Tuesday in Hoquiam.

PHOTO BY FOREST WORGUM Hoquiam’s Nadine Stewart scored nine points to lead the Grizzlies during a 64-28 loss to Black Hills on Tuesday in Hoquiam.

Junior guard Nadine Stewart led the Grizzlies with nine points while sophomore Lexi LaBounty added eight points.

The Wolves went 29-for-63 from the floor (46%) and had 19 offensive rebounds in the game.

Hoquiam will take some time off for the Christmas break and will resume play at the Raymond Holiday Tournament against Morton-White Pass at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 28 at Raymond High School.

Black Hills 24 16 15 9 – 64

Hoquiam 9 5 5 9 – 28

Scoring: Black Hills – McMahon 19, Venable 13, Williams 8, Klovas 7, Buchanan 7, C. Johnson 4, Patti 4, Johnson 2. Hoquiam – Stewart 9, LaBounty 8, Gordon 4, Brodhead 3, Howard 3, Little 1.

Raymond-South Bend 62, North Beach 19

Raymond-South Bend got points from every player that saw game time in a 62-19 win over North Beach on Tuesday in Ocean Shores.

RSB (5-2 overall, 3-2 2B Pacific) got points from all seven Ravens that played on Tuesday, led by sophomore guard Kassie Koski, who scored a game-high 16 points to go along with six steals and four rebounds.

Emma Glazier scored 10 points while Ava Pine and Megan Kongbouakhay scored nine points each for the Ravens.

RSB led 22-5 after the first quarter and held a 24-point lead by halftime.

“Really happy with the good, competitive mindset early in the game. Good positive plays on offense and defense from all seven who played tonight,” RSB head coach Jason Koski said. “Nice to see good, balanced scoring and our ability to cut down on our team turnovers. Great to see team chemistry evolving on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor.”

RSB committed seven turnovers in the game and was led by Ava Baugher on the glass with 11 rebounds.

North Beach was led by freshman guard Elka Cox with eight points.

The Hyaks (1-7, 0-5) had 11 turnovers and went 9-of-10 from the free-throw line (90%).

RSB plays at Elma at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

North Beach will take on Ilwaco at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4 in Ocean Shores.

Raymond-South Bend 22 12 19 9 – 62

North Beach 5 5 4 5 – 19

Scoring: RSB – Kas. Koski 16, Glazier 10, Pine 9, Kongbouakhay 9, Morley 7, Stigall 6, Baugher 5. North Beach – Cox 8, Goldman 4, Beck 4, Dodson 2, Capoeman 1.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Elma’s Xavier Espinoza (1) stands atop the podium after winning the 113-pound weight class at the HammerHead Invitational on Saturday in Bremerton.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Elma’s Xavier Espinoza (1) stands atop the podium after winning the 113-pound weight class at the HammerHead Invitational on Saturday in Bremerton.

PREP BOYS WRESTLING

Elma’s Espinoza wins class at HammerHead Invitational

Elma wrestler Xavier Espinoza won his respective weight class at the HammerHead Invitational on Saturday at the Kitsap Sun Pavillion in Bremerton.

Espinoza won his first four matches via pinfall before facing Washington’s Daniel Herrera in the 113-pound title match, where the Elma sophomore won via medical forfeit.

Elma’s Aidyn Johnson won five matches in the 113-pound weight class before being eliminated on Saturday, the second day of the tournament.

Elma’s Kale Reeves won five matches at 132 pounds before falling in the consolation round on Saturday.

WOMEN’S COLLEGE WRESTLING

Grays Harbor College ranked No. 1 in NCWA

The Grays Harbor Chokers earned the top spot in the latest National Collegiate Wrestling Association’s top-10 rankings.

The Chokers garnered 65 points for a No. 1 ranking ahead of Ottawa-Arizona (58 points), Liberty (44), Washington State (37) and Grand Canyon (33).

Two GHC wrestlers were ranked No. 1 in their respective weight class. Raneah Ureste – a defending national champion – earned the top spot at 191 pounds while GHC sophomore Kali Hood was ranked No. 1 at 235.

The complete rankings can be viewed at ncwa.net.