TENINO — Though it played the league-leading Eatonville Cruisers tough in the first half, trailing by just one, the Tenino boys basketball team couldn’t keep pace, dropping another league contest, 63-45, Thursday night at home.
The Beavers (5-7, 1-3 1A Evergreen) got a game-high 20 points from freshman Noah Schow, who rained down four 3-pointers and took advantage of the Cruisers zone in the first half, but fell into a rut in the third quarter and couldn’t dig out of it in the fourth.
“We knocked down some shots,” Beavers coach Joe Chirhart said. “We have to get prepared for people zoning us. With Takari (Hickle) and (Jack) Burkhardt down low, not many teams are going to man us.”
The Cruisers fell into their zone and collapsed on the interior every time Hickle or Burkhardt touched the ball, forcing other players to step up for the Beavers. Will Feltus was the only other Beaver in double figures with 11 points.
“I can not be more proud of our team,” Chirhart said. “They battled tonight.”
The Beavers will look to rebound on Senior Night against Hoquiam in their last home league game on Tuesday.
