By Scott D. Johnston
A first round playoff game at home next week is likely on the line this Thursday as the North Beach High School Lady Hyaks varsity basketball team plays its last regular season game on the home court hardwood of the “House of Pain.” The South Bend Indians will visit for the 5:45 p.m. tipoff, with the varsity boys playing at 7 p.m.
Following Monday night’s 51-38 win over Northwest Christian, the Lady Hyaks are in fourth place in the Pacific 2B league, with an 8-7 league record (13-7 overall), and one game remaining. The top four Pacific 2B teams will host first round games in the Southwest District 4 2B Tournament at 7 p.m. Monday, February 6.
North Beach’s defeat of Northwest Christian included their best free throw shooting performance in memory, 17 of 19 for 89 percet. It was a well-balanced offensive effort with Hannah Avery pouring in 16 points. Riley Moore had 15, including 11-11 from the foul line. Helen Garman had 8 points and 9 rebounds, Adelina Desamours had 8 points, and Mariah Vogler grabbed 9 rebounds.
The Hyaks’ cross-Harbor rivals, the Ocosta Wildcats, are 7-7 (9-8) with games remaining against league powers Raymond (15-2) on Tuesday and Life Christian (10-4) on Wednesday. That schedule means the Lady Hyaks will know going into their Thursday game exactly where they stand and what they must do.
If Ocosta loses both games, the Lady Hyaks will have fourth place already wrapped up. If Ocosta splits their remaining games, North Beach must defeat South Bend to secure fourth. And if Ocosta manages to pull off back-to-back upsets, the Wildcats will finish in fourth place and the Lady Hyaks fifth.
A fourth place finish means North Beach will host either the Toutle Lake Ducks or the Mossyrock Vikings of Central 2B next Monday. Fifth place means travel to Napavine to face the Lady Tigers.
Assistant coach Jessica Preisinger believes being at home for the first playoff game could be a key to advancing through the double-elimination district tournament, which will send the top six teams on to regional action in Spokane February 24 and 25.
“We have to win that first game,” she said. If that is accomplished, “we have a legitimate chance” to get to the regionals.
Either Thursday or next Monday will mark the final home court appearance for a trio of seniors who have led the way for the Lady Hyaks this season. Guards Avery and Moore have shared running the North Beach offense while 6-foot-1 Garman has been strong under the basket, with multiple double-doubles this season.
Preisinger said discipline and toughness are two defining characteristics of the 2016-17 Lady Hyaks squad. “It takes a lot of discipline to run man-to-man,” she said of the defense the team employs. Citing the team’s short bench, she continued, “Not a lot of girls are up to running man-to-man with seven players,” but the heavy lifting has produced results. “They’re definitely stronger than they were at the start of the season.” The team has been “hungry” this season, with the three “great senior leaders” showing the way.
“They have fun because they enjoy improving,” she said, noting the team went on a 9-game winning streak after a 4-4 start. “In the locker room they all like each other …These girls have put in a lot of hard work because they want to.”
Meanwhile, the North Beach varsity boys team will play the final game of a frustrating season that has seen only two wins. Seniors Elijah Ewing, Diego Gonzales, Tim Johnson, Ryan Turner and Christopher You will play their final game.
