FORKS — Braden Decker ripped the nets for 20 points to spark the Forks boys basketball team to a crucial victory of league co-leader Onalaska in SWL-Evergreen Division action Tuesday day.
“This is a big win for us,” a very tired and sick Forks coach Scott Justus said after the game.
The Spartans, with only eight varsity players suited up because of a nasty cold or flu going through the team, still managed to beat Onalaska 51-36 to forge a tie at 5-1 for both teams at or near the top of the league standings.
Elma was tied with Onalaska for first at 5-0 going into Tuesday’s game.
“We could end up being tied for first if Hoquiam beats Elma [Tuesday night],” Justus said.
Forks is 9-3 overall.
Defense was the key as it always is for the Spartans.
“We hang our hat on defense,” Justus said. “We’re not a scoring team.”
Forks has scored in the 50s just twice this year but is holding opponents to an average of 39 points a game, holding Onalaska under that at 36.
The Spartans held the Loggers to single digits in each quarter. But Onalaska was consistent, scoring nine in each period.
“We were able to make enough shots tonight that we got great looks and put them in,” Justus said.
And the Spartans were rebounding kings, grabbing 26 boards to Onalaska’s 16.
“We owned the glass,” Justus said.
Tyler Penn sank 12 points and just missed a double-double with nine rebounds. He also had four assists.
“Tyler had a great all-around game,” Justus said.
Brady Castellano pulled down a game-high 12 boards and he dished out three assists.
Everybody contributed, even the athletes on the bench who didn’t get a lot of playing time.
Shaquille Cress and Michael Dean saw their coach struggling with his illness and both gave him ideas for plays.
“They said to me, ‘Hey coach, I think this play will work,’ ” Justus said.
“We used the plays and we scored on them. It was just a great job by the bench. Everybody contributed in this game.”
That included assistant coach Rick Gooding.
“Rick did all the coaching tonight,” Justus said. “I would yell something and it would take five minutes for me to recover.
“Everybody picked it up for the old, sick guy tonight.”
The Spartans next will host Hoquiam on Friday night.
“That will be another big game for us,” Justus said.
Forks 51, Onalaska 36
Onalaska 9 9 9 9— 36
Forks 8 14 15 14— 51
Individual scoring
Onalaska (36)
Nedved 11, Ritchey 8, Krause 9, McMillions 5, Barrett 3.
Forks (51)
J. Penn 5, T. Penn 12, Castellano 8, Cress 2, Decker 20, Leons 4.