YAKIMA — Sophomore Steven Gray came within one point of a state single-game scoring record as he sparked the Chimacum Cowboys to a huge upset of No. 5 Ridgefield in the first round of the Class 2A boys basketball state playoffs Wednesday.
The Cowboys (17-7) stomped the Ridgefield Spudders 66-44 at the Yakima SunDome.
“We went with the zone defense and it shut them down,”‘ Cowboys head coach Vic Porter said. “Not sure what we will use tommorow, I guess whatever works.”
Gray’s total was one point shy of the individual single-game record of 37 at the Class 2A tournament. The record is held by three players, last reached by Pullman’s Fred Peete in 2003.
Gray was 10-for-20 shooting, including 2-for-6 on 3-pointers, and was 14-for-14 from the free-throw line. He also had a game-high 12 rebounds, four assists, a blocked shot and a steal.
“He played really well for us today,” Porter said. “They all played well.”
Chimacum improved to 17-7 while Ridgefield slipped to 21-3.
Drew Bleth paced the Spudders with 20 points, including three 3-pointers.
Chimacum will take on Nooksack Valley (18-6) in the championship quarterfinals today at 5:30 p.m. The winner is guaranteed a trophy game Saturday.
“They’re a big team, and have a winning tradition,” Porter said. “They’re beatable, and thats what we’re aiming to do.”
Nooksack Valley 49, Forks 35
YAKIMA — Bruce Holz scored 14 points and Dan Skillman added 13 as Nooksack Valley rallied past Forks 49-35 Wednesday in the opening round of the state Class 2A boys tournament.
The Pioneers (18-6) trailed 13-5 early in the second quarter, but went on a 22-3 run to take a 27-16 halftime lead they would not relinquish.
Holz had 11 points and Skillman four during the run.
Forks (18-7) pulled within five points in the fourth quarter but couldn’t get closer.
Dallas Huggins led Forks with 13 points while Kevin Silcox and David Burr had six rebounds each.
For the Pioneers, J.E.B. Hobbs and Skillman each pulled down six rebounds as Nooksack dominated the boards 31-19.
Forks will take on Ridgefield (21-3) today at 10:30 a.m. in a loser-out consolation quarterfinal game.
Girls Basketball Chewelah 78, Chimacum 31
YAKIMA — Jenny Polm led four players in double-figures with 16 points, and ninth-ranked Chewelah opened the state Class 2A girls tournament with a 78-31 win over Chimacum Wednesday morning.
“They shot the lights out, and everything we threw up just wouldn’t fall,” Cowboys head coach Jim Eldridge said. “We couldn’t buy a basket.”
Polm and Jochelle Schatz each scored eight points in the first half as Chewelah jumped out to a 22-5 lead after the first quarter and coasted after that.
The Cougars led 38-18 at halftime.
Schatz finished with 10 points, while Nikki Nelson and Jen Leick each added 12 points for the Cougars (19-4).
Leick also pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds, and Amanda Whitley added 10.
Caitlin Eldridge led the Cowboys (11-13) with 13 points.
Bethany Friedrich added eight points for Chimacum.
Chimacum converted just 24 percent of its shots while Chewelah made 50 percent.
“The girls had their moments, but they were just really nervous,” Eldridge said. “Hopefully we have gotten rid of all our nerves.”
Chimacum will face Steilacoom (18-5) today at 9 a.m. in the loser-out consolation quarterfinals.