By GEORGE KUNKE

Willapa Valley outscored Ocosta 43-13 in the final three quarters to win convincingly 53-21 Saturday at Westport. Karli Friese fired in 22 points, collected seven rebounds and stole the ball five times.

“We started off the game slow and flat-footed,” Willapa Valley head coach Melissa Aust told the Herald. “We picked it up in the second half especially defensively. In the first half we just didn't look to run, didn't look to pressure much on defense, and were just too relaxed, and Ocosta started the game with some intensity.”

Michaela Huber pumped in 12 points, hooked onto eight rebounds and made two steals. Abbee Bannish popped in six points.

The Lady Vikings upped their overall record to 9-6 and improved to 6-2 in the Pacific League while the Lady Wildcats went to 2-13 and 0-8.

Willapa Valley (53): L Friiese 1, Bannish 6, Huber 12, K Friese 22, Walker 0, Smaciarz 4, Fluke 2, Harden 2, Wilkeson 2, Cook 2. 20/66, floor; 11/20, FT.

Ocosta (21): Schmeling 2, Sunde 0, Phillips 5, Wingate 0, Jones 5, Saul 0, Rutzer 0, Poulsen 0, Christensen 9. 7/28, floor; 6/15, FT.

Lady Vikes 61, Naselle 31

Solid shooting and 17 points by Karli Friese proved fatal for visiting Naselle during Willapa Valley’s 61-31 cakewalk last Thursday.

1/10 WV 61 vs. Naselle 31
”We played well tonight and had strong defense,” Coach Aust told the Herald. “We moved the ball very well. We hit shots and got lots of good looks; ran the offense well and ran the floor very well. We had nice contribution from everyone and I think that we play much better when that happens.”
Brooke Harden and Huber gathered six boards each and Lauren Friese and Morgan Walker took down five rebounds apiece. Karli Friese made three steals.
Valley shot 42 percent from the field on 25 of 60 (25 of 60). Willapa’s defense was keeping NHS in check at 18 percent (9 of 49).

Huber tallied nine points and Harden and Lauren Friese added eight each.

Willapa Valley: L Friese 8, Bannish 2, Huber 9, K Friese 17, Walker 4, Cook 5, Smaciarz 4, Fluke 4, harden 8, Wilkeson 0. 25/60, Floor; 8/13, FT
 
Naselle: M Green 6, Nelson 0, K Green 15, Leland 2, Pine 0, Duvall 0, Scrabeck 2, Matthews 2, Bjornsgard 4. 9/49, Floor; 9/17, FT.

Lady Vikings 52, South Bend 34

Valley’s defense held South Bend to 18 percent (10 of 54) shooting to a 52-34 whipping Jan. 4 at Tenoski Gym in Menlo. Lauren Friese (12) and Karli Friese (11) combined for 23 points for the winners.

“We looked to push the ball again tonight and got some baskets off
transition,” Valley head coach Melissa Aust told the Herald. “We played solid defense and we took care of the ball tonight. The girls looked much better tonight, made little things happen and go our way. Everyone played and contributed to our victory and I think that's important with this team as we don't have the oversized go-to girl.”
Karli Friese notched six rebounds and two thefts and Huber and Lauren Friese (2 steals) snatched five boards apiece.

Makenzie Russell had 13 rebounds, Myranda Curtis 12 and Katlyn Sawyer nine for SBHS.

“We started off strong and did see improvement in passing and moving the ball,” South Bend head coach Gary Wilson told the Herald. “We went cold from the field and just did not stay aggressive on offense. It will be nice to get back into a regular routine now that school is back in session.”

Willapa Valley: L Friese 12, Bannish 4, Huber 9, K Friese 11, Walker 6, Smaciarz 6, Fluke 2, Harden 2, Wilkeson 0. Floor: 19/64; FT: 10/18.

South Bend: Cearns 9, Sanchez 2, Funkhauser 1, Patterson 1, Russell 7, Sawyer 6, Curtis 6, Myers 2, Wilson 0. Floor: 10/54; FT: 2/14.

Pe Ell 62, Lady Vikes 39

Pe Ell ripped Willapa Valley 62-39 at the Jack Q. Pearson Friday night (Dec. 28) at Tenoski Gym in Menlo. Karli Friese had a big game for Valley with 19 points.

“We had a great first half...solid defense, ran the floor well, shot the
ball very well, broke their pressure well, and communicated on defense,” Coach Aust told the Herald. “I was excited to see the girls finally play the way I know they can and the way we need them to. Then in the second half we cooled off, didn't shoot as well, committed more turnovers, and let Pe Ell hit shots inside and outside too easily. We were stuck on 27 points for eight minutes while Pe Ell scored 13 points during that same stretch. Pe Ell definitely came out stronger in the second half. This was another very physical game.”

Willapa was in front 20-12 after the first quarter and trailed by only four (31-27) at halftime. The Lady Trojans won the second half 31-12 to win going away.

The Lady Vikings shot only 22 percent for the game (11 of 49), while PHS was at 38 percent (19 of 50).
Lady Vikings: L. Friese 0, Bannish 0, Huber 4, K. Friese 19, Walker 8, Cook 0, Abby Smaciarz 5, Fluke 0, Alicia Smaciarz 0, Wilkerson 0, Harden 3.
Pe Ell: Robinson 10, A. Alden 0, Ratkie 11, Skeen 2, Brooks-Johnson 22, M. Alden 0, Capps 16, Miller 1.

Valley hosted North Beach Tuesday and Adna comes to Menlo Saturday.

Editor’s Note: Individual Scoring on all games courtesy of Coach Aust.