CHIMACUM — East Jefferson accomplished what it set out at the start of the season — not just compete but to win half of its games — with an emotional 46-41 senior night victory over rival Klahowya.
The Rivals improved to 8-8 in Nisqually League play and 9-11 overall with the season sweep of the Eagles, a vast improvement from a 2-12 record last season and an 0-12 record in 2021.
“I don’t even think I’ve quite processed it yet,” East Jefferson coach Lorraine Rimson said. “It’s exciting, we have a playoff game [today] but I don’t think I quite get that we are a legitimate high school varsity team now. We were a group of girls, a team striving for something, and now it’s just different. We have kids who are ballers, not just high school athletes.”
Rimson said the evening was full of drama and foul calls.
“It was emotional, East Jefferson coach Lorraine Rimson said. “I cried all day long before the game. The kids were just weeping during the senior night festivities. But I learned that we can shake that emotion pretty quickly.”
“It was definitely a physical game, lots of testiness, always a physical game with Klahowya,” Rimson said. “We never got in a real rhythm for very long offensively, but it was sort of a slugfest, 40-something free throws for both teams.
“It was a game we would not have won in past seasons. The other team had one good player and they played 11 other kids, so they could keep bringing them in and we have a smaller roster.”
The Rivals cashed in at the free-throw line in both halves, hitting 26 of 37 freebies for the game.
Senior Alyssa Vandenberg came up cluch at the line, hitting 10 of 12 and scoring 18 points.
“Alyssa was solid, she hit a lot of free throws,” Rimson said. “She and Abbie Liske weere still struggling from coming back from illness, but she was grinding through it and kept going. I thought about taking her out for a rest, but then I thought, she’s a winner, a senior and she came through with a bucket and a couple of crucial free throws in the fourth quarter. I’m going to miss her shot, it’s beautiful to watch.”
Sophomore Kay Botkin added 10 points, including knocking down 8 of 10 from the free-throw line
“Kay played really well, her improvement is leaps and bounds. She is a real deal point guard now and the fact that she is only a sophomore is super exciting,” Rimson said. “It’s so important to have a true point guard that gets its. She’s growing every single game.”
Senior Maddy Harris added nine points and Addy Asbell also drained her two free throw shots in her final home game.
Senior Lizzy Storm, who sat out the game with a lingering case of shin splints, and junior varsity player Alexandra Dominguez-Santiago also were honored during senior night.
East Jefferson will visit Cascade Christian tonight in a loser-out Class 1A West Central District Tournament game.
The Rivals fell both times they played the Cougars this season.
“First game was 21 points there and then we lost by five at home,” Rimson said. “Our defense was key to that, we played full-court man and that was effective.”
East Jefferson 46, Klahowya 41
Klahowya 8 16 8 9— 41
East Jeff. 10 14 12 10— 46
Klahowya (41) — Spandler 15, O’Brien 7, Sullivan 4, Kilmer 4, Horen 2, Corey 2.
East Jefferson (46) — Vandenberg 18, Botkin 10, Harris 9, Vailolo 7, Asbell 2, O’Hara, Liske, O’Donnell.
Forks 51, Morton-White Pass 31
CASTLE ROCK — The Spartans stayed alive in the Class 2B District 4 Tournamentwith a solid win over the Timberwolves.
Forks (16-6) advances to face state power Wahkiakum (12-11) in a loser-out contest Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. back at Castle Rock High School.
“We played aggressive basketball and came out with good energy,” coach David Hurn said. “We didn’t shoot the ball particularly well but we made up for it with rebounding on the defensive end, applying pressure and being the aggressor. We struggled against Rainier in the first half against that style, so we needed to be the aggressors and make them be on their toes.”
Keira Johnson posted a double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds.
Kadie Wood added 14 points, 11 rebounds and seven steals.
“A really good all-around game for her,” Hurn said.
“We did really well with our defensive rebounding and limiting them to one shot per possession.”
Forks will face a Wahkiakum team that is accustomed to making annual trips to the state tournament in Spokane.
“First thing you hear is that they are an outstanding program, great tradition, they know how to play when the lights are on and their backs are against the wall,” Hurn said. “We will need to be on our game.”
Forks 51, Morton-White Pass 31
MWP 6 8 8 9— 31
Forks14 10 18 9— 51
Forks (51) — K. Johnson 15, Wood 14, Neel 8, B. Johnson 6, Wharton 5, Gaydeski-St. John.
Crescent 54, Concrete 25
CONCRETE — The Loggers advanced into the Class 1B Tri-District Tournament with a loser-out bi-district win against the Lions.
“The Lady Loggers defense was all over the court to shut down a very scrappy Concrete team,” coach Mike Hazelett said. “It’s an exciting win for the Loggers who came up short in the first game of district play last season.”
Hazelett said Naomii Sprague and Ciara Cargo-Acosta led the Loggers in scoring, while Audrey Gales had a strong night in the pain with eight points and 11 rebounds. The defensive effort was led by Kaylen Mason, Makiah Clark and Jocy Kazlauskas.
Crescent will visit Sound Christian Academy today in a loser-out, Tri-District Tournament game.
Boys Basketball East Jefferson 58, Klahowya 55
SILVERDALE — The Rivals rallied to earn a district playoff berth by making defensive adjustments on the Eagles’ best player Robbie Slater after halftime.
“We had trouble stopping Robbie Slater in the first quarter and a half,” coach Emmanuel Abbott said. “Then some guys really stepped up like Cash Holmes, Lorenzo McCleese and Toby Fulton who kind of locked him up the rest of the game. Slater totaled 22 points in the first half, but was held to five in the second.
Brody Moore posted a team-high 15 for the Rivals.
“Brody Moore had a great floor game while leading in points for us,” Abbott said. “We had a lot of guys contributing in the second half in the defensive end. I’ve said it all along if we can keep games close and play good defense we will be in games.”
East Jefferson (9-11) will visit Vashon in a loser-out West Central District Tournament game tonight at 7 p.m.
East Jefferson 58, Klahowya 55
East Jeff. 10 17 18 13— 58
Klahowya 11 23 9 12— 55
East Jefferson (58) — Moore 15, Holmes 9, Guzman 7, Johnson 6, Haddenham 5, McCleese 3, Zambor 3.
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Sports reporterMichael Carman can be contacted at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
