Napavine, Wins Third and Most Important Match (so far) with Ducks

In the 2nd half, looks in the paint were tough to come by for Toutle Lake, but Chris Foster got this highly improbable shot to go over and through Napavine defenders Micah Brown (#31) and Justin Smith (#23)

When it comes to the Central 2B, it is a matter of who wants the game after 32 minutes. All season, the teams traded wins and home and home conference games. The Tigers and Toutle Lake were no exception, having traded 47-45 and 49-46 outcomes earlier in the season. It only made sense that Napavine and Toutle Lake met with a trip to the WIAA State Tournament on the line.

The Ducks earned themselves a reputations for engineering comebacks with a dramatic overtime win against South Bend and then coming back from 16 down against Adna , but tonight jumped out on the Tigers from the tip. Napavine however, began a comeback with a 12-0 run that had the halftime break sandwiched in for good taste. In the 3rd quarter, momentum catapulted towards the Tigers and they grabbed a lead they would never relinquish in a 46-44 victory in the 2B Semi-Finals.

Blake Anthony led Napavine with 16 points while Chris Foster helped the Ducks with 15.

Micah Brown (#31) stepped-up and contributed to the Tigers victory with his 9 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists.

For the Tigers, it was the combined effort of Micah Brown and Devin Carroll to come back from a 22-12 deficit. With three minutes to go in the 2nd quarter, Micah Brown, Anthony and Jordan Brown all hit buckets. After the intermission, Carroll scored four points while Micah Brown added two more to grab a lead the Tigers would refuse to let go.

Napavine's Colton Brown works in the paint against Toutle Lake's Chris Foster (#24).

Early, Toutle Lake jumped out with a number of early buckets. Christ Foster hit a pair of deuces and a trey while Cody O’ Connor produced points helping the Ducks to an early 12-4 advantage.

Jeff Campbell backs down Napavine's Justin Smith. Toutle Lake had many good looks in the paint early in the game.

In the 2nd half, the Ducks derailed themselves commiting 13 of their 16 turnovers on the night. Let's not forget the very forgetful 3-15 from the free throw line through the game either but what made things worse, Napavine was able to shoot 71 percent from the field after halftime.

The Tigers led 39-31 early in the 4th, but the Duck’s Jeff Campbell fought through three defenders for a hard-fought bucket in the paint. Seconds later, Foster was fouled in the shot process and earned three points in the old-school way to bring his team to 39-37.

Napavinve's Devin Carroll scored 13 points on the evening and went 3 for 3 from the free throw line.

Inside of two minutes, a bevy of turnovers riddled both teams as errant passes went over heads and off hands and the Tigers held on to a 43-38 advantage. With 31 seconds to go, the Ducks Tyler Elam sunk a huge three (his only points of the night) and the patented Toutle Lake comeback was showing signs of life.

Zack Hayes fouled Jordan Brown to stop the clock and Brown buried the two charity shots. The importance of those free throws where highlighted when Foster put in another clutch three with six seconds to go, bringing the score to 45-44.

Appropriately, it was Anthony that was fouled and he sank one of two free throws, leaving the Ducks two seconds. A shot was launched from about 55 feet that hit the lower right corner of the backboard and Napavine earned a trip to the state tournament.

Napavine will meet Pe Ell for the 3rd time in the District 2B Championship game on Saturday while the Ducks will face North Beach in a loser-out match.

TIGERS (46)
Wade Hamre 0, Devin Carroll 13, Colton Brown 0, Tyson Hunt 0, Justin Smith 4, Jordan Brown 2, Reece Stanley 2, Micah Brown 9, Blake Anthony 16, Mathew Waltenburg 0

DUCKS (44)
Cody O’ Connor 11, Zac Hayes 7, Tyler Elam 3, Brian Nash 0, Chris Foster 15, Jeff Campbell 8, Dan Schilter 0,

Napavine 9 9 20 8-46
Toutle Lake 15 7 9 13-44

Napavine Slips by Mules at Home

Wahkiakum and Napavine combined 36 personal fouls during their game Saturday night. Here, the Mules Blake Anderson (#10) wrestles several Napavine players for a lose ball.

Sometimes a good start is not enough, when a better finish is just the ticket. The Tigers of Napavine started with a six point run, but finished with two key free throws to clinch a 48-44 2CBL victory over Wahkiakum Saturday night.

Napavine scored the first six points of the game and then went ice cold during the 1st quarter as the Mules went on a 12-0 run with half of those points produced by Chase Fritzie during his 15 point total.

Napavine's Tyson Hunt (#22) hit all of his points at key moments in the 4th quarter.

The Tigers heated up in the 2nd quarter outscoring Wahkiakum 17-10. Napavine actually raised their field goal percentage to a reckless 29% with a relatively warm second stanza. It was also during the 2nd quarter when Napavine standout Blake Anthony started his vivid contribution to the game. In the first 1:57, he scored 8 points. By the time halftime rolled around, he had contributed 13 of the Tiger’s 17 points in the quarter.

Despite the low scoring game, the Mules pushed the ball and looked for transition opportunities. Napvine was able to foil the Mules transition game in the second half allowing Wahkiakum to shoot just 36% after allowing 42% in the first half.


Wahkiakum's Ryan Helms (#5) denied the Tiger's proflic scorer Blake Anthony (#33) during the 4th quarter.

The biggest shot of the night occurred with 1:35 to go. The Tigers led 43-42 but the Mules denied Anthony the ball most of the second half. It was Colton Brown who hit a three giving Napavine a larger, almost insurmountable advantage. From that point on, the free throw contest began with Anthony hitting two of three down the stretch to ice the game.

The more athletic Tigers out rebounded the Mules 41 to 30 but the Mules spent a lot of time at the free throw line to keep the game close. Ultimately, they hit an impressive 16 of 22 from the free throw line.

Blake Anthony led all scorers with 19 points while Fritzie led the Mules with 15 points. Wade Hamre had 3 assists for Napavine and Blake Anderson had three for Wahkiakum.

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WAHKIAKUM-Brad Pugh 2, Blake Anderson 7, Justin McClain 0, Chase Fritzie 15, Johna Chambers 0, Cody Olson 11, Troy Howard 4, Danny Helms 0, Ryan Helms 0, Bryce Hilzer 2, Tyson Bain 3

NAPAVINE-Wade Hamre 0, Mason Keller 0, Devin Carroll 11, Colton Brown 8, Tyson Hunt 4, Justin Smith 4, Jordan Brown 0, Reece Stanley 2, Micah Brown 0, Blake Anthony 19, Matthew Waltenburg 0

WAHKIAKUM 12 10 9 13-44
NAPAVINE 6 17 11 14-48

Anthony Scores 31 as Napavine Rolls over Columbia Adventist

Napavine’s Blake Anthony put on a shooting clinic on Tuesday night as the Tigers bested Columbia Adventist 75-35 in Central 2B League play. The Kodiaks scored the first 3 points of the game but then Anthony, Matt Waltenberg and company hit five three point shots and scored the next 21 points.

Reece Stanley (#30) is open for a high percentage shot against Columbia Adventist Tuesday evening. Stanley scored 13 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.

Columbia Adventist improved the quality of play in the 2nd quarter by trading baskets with the Tigers and were only outscored 14-12.

The Tiger onslaught continued in the 3rd quarter and when Napavine Head Coach Rex Stanley decided to play some reserves. “I was real pleased with the bench,” said Stanley. "When we emptied the bench with six minutes to go, they actually extended the lead.”

Besides Anthony who demands the casual spectator’s attention, Reece Stanley added 13 points and the play of Mason Keller who scored just two points but had five assists sparkled. Coach Rex Stanley also commended the play of Matthew Waltenberg, a hero of Napavine’s State Football Championship who is getting his first significant action on the varsity.

Napavine's Blake Anthony put up 31 points against Columbia Adventist in Tuesday night.

Clearly, it was a pleasure to watch Blake Anthony whose smooth shooting added up to just under 1.4 points per minute played. He also added 10 rebounds and 3 assists. One of those assists came in the third quarter when he drove down the left side of the key, faked a pass toward the baseline while actually making a no-look pass across his body to a teammate right under the basket.

It was a thing of beauty for both Anthony and the Tigers.

A snowed-out C2BL contest with Toutle Lake was rescheduled to this Saturday at 7:00pm.