Prep Girls Basketball Roundup: Scores and reports from The Blast Zone
County Lines — Castle Rock defends home court against Winlock in season-opener
Jordan Nailon / blastzonenews@gmail.com
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Meyers’ double-double leads Rockets over Cards
The Castle Rock girls basketball team got tough down the stretch to pick up a 51-42 win over Winlock to open the season, Tuesday, on LeBaron Court. The Rockets saw Ashlyn Meyers post a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds on the way to the non-league win over the 2B Cardinals.
“Ashlyn Meyers had an outstanding game in her first varsity start,” Castle Rock coach Jordan Garbe said. “She fought for every rebound and loose ball… overall an amazing first game for Ashlyn, and I can’t wait to see where this season takes her.”
Dakota Davis also posted a double-double for Castle Rock with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
“She ran the court well and helped us push the transition game,” Garbe noted.
Every Rocket on the varsity roster scored on the night. But despite enough double-doubles to make the Hamburglar turn away from a life of petty larceny, the Rockets led just 28-21 at halftime.
On the other end Natalie Cardenas did all she could to will the Cardinals to a win, posting a game-high 23 points in the loss.
“Our team needs to focus on our defense before our next match up,” Garbe said. “However, I was really impressed with the defensive effort of Ellie Foster and Shyleena Watkins.”
With the Rockets’ perimeter defense still a work in progress the visitors hit seven 3-pointers in the game. Cali Geehan and Victoria Sancho scored eight points each for the Cards, but missed opportunities thwarted their comeback attempt.
“We lost the game at the free throw line,” first-year Winlock coach Matt Sixkiller said.
The Cards were just 5 of 19 from the charity stripe, and will have to tighten up a few loose ends after a promising, and exhausting, start at the Lower Columbia College jamboree last week.
Castle Rock will take the win, whatever the stats say, as it tries to pick up some momentum in the second season under the direction of Garbe.
“I’m happy to have the win under our belt, and am proud of the effort and hustle we showed,” Garbe noted. “I am looking forward to cleaning up some things moving forward. This group of girls has a fight in them, and I think that can be a real asset.”
Castle Rock (1-0) will play at Black Hills on Friday at 7 p.m.
Winlock (0-1) will play at Wahkiakum on Friday at 7 p.m.
Fighting Ducks win battle of the birds with Tumwater
Toutle Lake opened its season by welcoming 2A Tumwater to East Cowlitz County, Tuesday, and promptly dispatched the T-Birds 61-38 in non-league girls basketball action.
Payton Thayer led the Fighting Ducks with a game-high 17 points.
The hosts took a six-point advantage to the intermission and then out-scored Tumwater 26-12 in the third quarter to earn some breathing room. Kendal Dean added 15 points on the way to the win.
“It was a real team effort, that’s what I told the girls after the game,” Toutle Lake coach Daren Dean said. “Everbone contributed in some way.”
Sophia Spinneberg posted 11 points for the Ducks, while Lainey Dean tallied eight steals and Olivia Thomas cleaned up misses on the glass like mom’s before Thanksgiving company arrives.
“It was a good first game,” Coach Dean said. “Ya, we’ve got some things to work on, but we’ve got a great chemistry.”
Toutle Lake (1-0) will host Montesano on Monday at 7 p.m.
Just The Scores
**Mary M. Knight 57, Three Rivers Christian 03
*As previously reported by Blast Zone Media.
**Blast Zone Media did not receive a report for this game. Please submit all scores, reports and other news tips by email to: blastzonenews@gmail.com