Winlock Hands Onalaska a 2nd Defeat

Sometimes, a seemingly insurmountable lead can evaporate in just minutes. On Saturday night a ten point lead by the Winlock Cardinal nearly disappeared in the 4th quarter of an SWWA 1A, Evergreen Conference marquee match with Onalaska. The Cardinals scored three points in the 4th quarter but it was enough to stay unbeaten in league play as Winlock defeated the Loggers 39-37.

Winlock’s Tyler Hertz (left) and Jordan Davis (#20) stops Onalaska’s Dalton Richey under the basket. Richey led all scorers in Saturday’s game with 16 points.

Onalaska came out fast and took an 11-10 lead after the 1st quarter, but the Cardinals came back and out scored Ony 15 to 4 in the second stanza. With 7 points from Jordan Davis and contributions, usually 2nd chance rebounds from Tyler Diamond, Jake Brown and Nathan Booth.

The third was played to an 11-11 push. But Dalton Richey began to assert himself as a slashing scorer as he earned 7 of his 16 points during a five minute portion of the 3rd. Winlock took a 36-26 lead into the final period.

Onalaska’s Jeff Swett tries to back down Winlock’s Nathan Booth in the 3rd quarter of their game on Saturday night.

Onalaska took advantage of a Winlock scoring drought with Jeff Swett grabbing a rebound and putting it back up and in. Richey went to work scoring off of an inbounds play narrowing the lead to 36-30. Winlock then turned the ball over in the backcourt and then Richey was fouled slashing to the bucket. He dropped both free throws and then Winlock proceeded to turn the ball over twice more leading to another Richey bucket and then a visit to the foul line by Eddie Miles. In all the Logger executed an 10-0 run from 52.9 seconds in the 3rd until 1:21 left in the 4th.

Miles however, contributed to the Loggers ten missed free throws at a key moment. In all, Onalaska went 11-21 from the free throw line. Winlock shot only eight times from the charity stripe, converting six on the evening.

Winlock is most dangerous on the offensive boards and Jake Brown proved that on a put-back with 1;21 left in the 4th.

Mike Kent (left) of Winlock “denies” Onalaska’s Brady Stanley the ball. Stanley is a prolific scorer but Winlock’s defense often prevented him from getting the ball.

19 seconds later, Brady Stanley got lose for his only shot of the game and was fouled by Cardinal Senior Tyler McCarthy. Stanley sunk the free throw leading the Loggers to within one at 38-37.

With 40.9 seconds, Winlock’s Nathan Booth was fouled and went to the free throw and hit the front end of a one and one to make the final score of the game at 39-37.

Onalaska had the final opportunity to tie or win as Jeff Swett had the ball under the bucket but was surrounded by Cardinals. The ball found its way to Richey, whose 20 foot plus shot flew only 16 feet just before the game ending buzzer.

“We knew they would come back on us,” said Winlock Head Coach Gary Viggers Sr. “We just had to be ready” said one of the calmest guys in the gym after the game.

Dalton Richey led all scorers with 16 points while Jordan Brown led the Cardinals with 14 points. Jake Brown had 12 rebounds in addition to his 9 points.

Winlock is now 12-0 in the Evergreen Conference while Onalaska falls to 12-2. Onalaska plays Rochester and Toledo as well as a non-conference game against Willapa Valley this week. Winlock will visit Rainier on Tuesday and host Montesano next Friday.

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ONALASKA-Dalton Richey 16, Jeff Swett 10, Eddie Miles 5, Cody Naillon 3, Brady Stanley 3, Eric Messal 0, Zach Barnes 0, Kolby Steele 0

WINLOCK-Jordan Davis 14, Nathan Booth 11, Jake Brown 9, Tyler Hertz 3, Tyler Diamond 2, Mike Kent 0, Tyler McCarthy 0


ONALASKA-11 4 11 11-37
WINLOCK 10 15 11 3-39

Onalaska Handles Foxless Rainier

The Onalaska boys looked sharp as they defeated Rainier 51-46 in a 1A Evergreen League game on Saturday. The loss was only slightly tempered by the fact that Rainier was playing without one of its best shooters in Jacob Fox and the fact that the two teams will meet again on Tuesday night at Rainier. In fact, Onalaska will play three games in four nights as they continue to make up snowed-out and flooded-out games from December and January.

Onalaska's Brady Stanley (#10) hit four threes and hit the last two free throws of the game for 14 points.

The Mountaineers stormed out of the locker room to a 15-9 1st quarter advantage, but Onalaska went on a 10-2 run to start the 2nd quarter and went into the locker room on a 7-3 flourish. Brady Stanley hit threes during the quarter and other points were contributed by Nick Modica, Eric Messal and Zack Barnes.

The Loggers employed an aggressive defense that resulted in several quick baskets after turnovers.

The Loggers largest lead was 41--30 after two Dalton Ritchey free throws with 6:55 to go in the 4th. Rainier went on a 6-0 run with a bucket and two free throws from Kyle North and two points from Bradon Franklin. After a bucket by Ony’s Jeff Swett, Franklin contributed three more free throws as he attracted the physical play of the Loggers and the lead dwindled to just 43-39.

Onalaska may not start any Seniors, but one plays an awfully big role on the team. Erik Messal hit a three with 4:02 to extend the lead to 46-39 and then a minute later he contributed another clutch 2 pointer. Rainier scored two more free throws by North and another bucket by Frankin, but it would not be enough.

Without fellow shooter and floor leader Jacob Fox, Kyle North (#14) kept Rainier in the game and was the overall high point man with 24 points.

Onalaska’s most productive five are juniors and sophomores with only two guys on the roster listed as a forward. The floor leader for Onalaska is Dalton Ritchey. “He missed a couple of early shots and got trying a little too much. But even on a bad night, he is good,” said Onalaska Head Coach Dennis Bower. “He is our floor leader, our emotional leader, he and Brady Stanley. He is just real solid and I feel comfortable with him, even when he is trying to do too much.

The aforementioned Stanley finished with 14 points while Ritchey had 10.

Dalton Ritchey ran the floor for Onalaska and added 10 points to the team's total.

The one senior on the team sits close to the coach though.

It was the performance of Eric Messal that caught the coach's attention. “The kid that hit the big shots down the stretch was a Senior” said Bower He is a great 6th man for us. He hit some big shots for us. Even when he was missing shots early, he hit the big shots.”

Onalaska Senior Eric Messal hit some clutch shots in the 4th quarter.

The Loggers are now 11-0 and 7-0 in league.

RAINIER-Jacob Fox 0, Delton Delio 0, Kevin Volaskey 6, Kyle North 21, Tyler Schaff 1, Mitch McComb 0, Matt Tietjen 0, Brandon Eygabroad 2, Bradon Franklin 9, Chris Ashby 5. FG — 14-41NA; FT — 12-18.
ONALASKA-Brady Stanley 14, Nick Modica 4, Dalton Ritchey 10, Eddie Miles 5, Cody Naillon 4, Eric Messal 12, Jeff Swett 2.

RAINIER 15 6 9 16 — 46
ONALASKA 9 19 12 12 — 51

Doubleheader of the Day...Rainier at Onalaska

There is an odd assortment of boys and girls basketball this Saturday with many non-league games that were either snowed out or flooded during our late December weather chaos. I don't see any match-ups as intriguing as the doubleheader at Onalaska this evening. At 5:45, the Onalaska girls will take on Rainier who are now officially the leaders of the 1A Evergreen Conference with their 40-34 win over previous league-leader Forks. Onalaska is 4th, but one through six, anybody can beat anyone as Winlock proved to Toledo, and Rainier certainly showed against Forks.

The Lady Logger's record is not impressive on paper, but they have been in every game and have a competitive mentality among the very best.

"Ony is Ony and they are always tough to beat on the road, said Rainier Girls Head Coach Dave Wasankari. "They are athletic and can shoot. We will have to play well to give ourselves a chance to win."

Rainier will come straight at Ony with Kristen Schoenherr who average about 15 points and 5'9" Chelsea Owens who contributes nearly 17 points and 8 rebounds per game.

Onalaska is led by Abmber Durand who is averaging about 21 points per game. Toledo concentrated on stopping her this week and only gave up 18 points to her. The Lady Loggers throw a multitude of talent in the intangibles. They score in tight spots, and move the ball around.

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The Onalaska boys are quietly undefeated on the season and can't seem to get much respect as yet. A game with Winlock was rescheduled after is was flooded out earlier this month. A victory against a hard-nosed Rainier team will put them in the minds of many observers until quality is proven otherwise.

The Loggers feature five pleayers that average in double figures and there is not a Senior among them. Cody Naillon, and Eddie Miles both average close to 12 points a game and are capable of grabbing 4 to 6 rebounds a piece. Sophomore Dalton Richey has emerged as one of the floor leaders as he and Brady Stanley both average 3 assists per game. Ritchy is now averaging 13 points a game. Jeff Swett is a worker under the boards with 8 rebounds a game. He also averages about 8 points a game.

Rainier counters with the interior play of Brandon Franklin who averages 12 points and over 5 rebounds a game. Kyle North is the floor leader with 4 assists per game but also has the capability to drop a big three-ball. Jacob Fox is also a great shooter from the outside. Both North and Fox average about 9 to 10 points a game.

This will be my first chance to see the Onalaska boys and the Rainier girls! It is a great opportunity to see some intense, high quality, high school basketball

Division 4 1A Game of the Week-Onalaska at Winlock

So, I will get my first look at the Napavine Boys and Girls tonight as they host Columbia Adventist. The game of the week has to be a match-up between Onalaska and Winlock on Thursday.

Winlock of course is off to a 6-1 record and Forks tonight. The regional press, myself included, has been all over them. Little unassuming Onalaska will come to Winlock most likely unbeaten (barring disaster tonight in Tenino).

Coach Dennis Bower has the Loggers playing as well as can be expected with a rough, physical defense with a combination of quickness, depth and sharp shooting from the outside (Cody Naillon, Brady Stanley and Dalton Richey) along with some good strong rebounding with the associated put-backs on the inside (Jeff Swett). Remember that one of the two regular season losses that the Cardinals took last year was the home match against the Loggers.

The most telling victory the Loggers have on the young season is against Napavine. Many of those players were still lining-up for football in early December, but the Tigers have been impressive enough to handle other teams of notoriety.

While Winlock can be confident, smaller teams give them problems. Kalama spread the floor and had success as did Fortuna, California who has given them their only defeat on the season. Many Northern California observers were stunned by that loss after watching the Cards dominate a far more impressive Del Norte team.

The Cardinal’s Jake Brown should be efficient with the Logger inside game, but the rest of the Onalaska athletes could be a challenge for Winlock.