Prep Boys Basketball Roundup: Scores and Reports from The Blast Zone
Come As You Are — R.A. Long cruises Aberdeen in season-opener
Jordan Nailon / blastzonenews@gmail.com
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New-look Lumberjacks impress in season debut
With a few new faces in the mix since the last time you saw them, the R.A. Long boys basketball team went on the road Tuesday and opened its season with a 85-50 win at Aberdeen in non-league 2A boys basketball action.
The Lumberjacks let the hosts hang around for the first eight minutes but quickly turned a five-point advantage into a 42-22 lead at the half.
“Aberdeen, they’re small, but they gave us a little bit of a push in the first quarter,” R.A. Long coach Jeray Key said. “But our pressure in the second quarter, as we just wear on teams full court… it kind of put them in a tough spot.”
The Lumberjacks scored no fewer than 19 points in any quarter, and posted twin 23’s in the middle frames to pull away. That output was a team affair with 11 Jacks reaching the scoring column, led by Landon Irwin’s game-high 18 points.
“I didn’t call one play for Irwin to score the ball and he still led us in scoring,” Key noted. “He did the little things right — rebounding, jumping the passing the lanes, back cuts — I looked up and I was surprised he was our leader.”
Rhett Young tallied a double-double for R.A. Long with 16 points and at least a baker’s dozen checkmarks in the rebound column. Josh Crane added 11 points, while Payton Thill and Cameron Newsome each posted eight points in the win.
All told, 13 players made it in the game for the Jacks.
“They were all feeling good. It was nice to get some guys in,” Key noted.
Tra Jenkins notched seven points and Jeffrey Rooklidge chipped in six as the Jacks learned what their new lineup will look like in action after adding a couple transfers from Prairie to the mix in the offseason.
Key isn’t worried about the new talent mixing with the homegrown players. He believes competition is good for everyone, and fresh legs are faster.
“In basketball you need seven to eight guys, and everybody should get to play a lot if you’re doing it right. Everybody needs to play a lot,” he noted. “I like the direction we’re headed. They all like each other and it’s all been good.”
What’s Next?
R.A. Long (1-0) will host a highly touted Seton Catholic squad on Thursday at the Lumberdome. That game might have had even more juice a little later in the season because the Cougars find themselves with the problem everyone wants to have — their football team is set to play for a State title this week.
As far as Key can see, Seton Catholic will be missing just one starter — Lance Lee — and should have most of their primary players in action. Even if their current varsity roster lists just eight names.
“I’m not expecting anything less than a barnburner,” Key promised.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on Joe Moses Court.
Monarchs roll to win in Rochester
Mark Morris must have picked up some inspiration when the bus rolled by Maple Lane on Tuesday because the Monarchs put the cuffs on Rochester in a 75-26 victory in non-league 2A boys basketball play.
The boys in Columbia Blue allowed just two points in the first quarter and led 44-12 at the intermission.
Rochester was led in scoring by Colton Weiss, who had just six points. The Warriors scored 10 points as a team in the second quarter, but failed to reach double digits in any other frame.
Dalton Stevens led the Monarchs with a game-high 20 points on 8 of 12 shooting. He knocked down four attempts from long range.
Mac West added 15 points off the bench in the win. He was 7 of 11 from the floor, but missed his only three-point attempt (of his career?), much to the chagrin of his teammates.
Drew Ibaretta added seven points for the Monarchs and Evan Peters hit a pair of three-pointers.
Mark Morris (2-0) will host Aberdeen at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Ted M. Natt Court.
Mules muscle up to top Tahlolah on opening night
Gage Robinson posted a strong double-double to help Wahkikaum lock down a 68-36 win at home over Taholah on Tuesday in their season-opener. Robinson finished the 1B boys basketball contest with 18 points, 18 rebounds and five blocks.
“For a first game I was really happy,” Wahkiakum coach Rob Garrett said. “I thought the guys did a good job of transferring the kills we’ve been working on in practice to the games.”
Parker Leitz posted a game-high 19 points to lead the Mules offense, knocking down a trio of 3-pointers along the way.
The Mules turned a one point lead after the first quarter into a 33-15 advantage by halftime by allowing just six points in the second stanza.
Jade Charley led Taholah with 14 points, and Jayden Lewis added 10 points for the Chitwhins
“Our defense took a big step forward tonight but it will need to continue to grow if we want to make our goals come true this season,” Garrett noted.
Cooper Carlson added 10 points and seven assists for the Mules, while Jayden Stoddard posted five points in the win.
“Offensively I really like to see how well the guy shared the ball,” Garrett said.
Wahkiakum (1-0) will play at Ilwaco on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Just the Scores
**Black Hills 59, Castle Rock 40
*As previously reported by Blast Zone Media, here.
** Blast Zone media did not receive a report for this game. Please send all scores, reports and other news tips to: blastzonenews@gmail.com