Tenino used a first-half offensive assault and tough defense throughout to claim its fourth-straight win in a 59-27 thumping of visiting King’s Way Christian in a non-league contest on Friday.
It was a redemption win for the Beavers against a Knights team that knocked them out of the 1A District 4 playoffs each of the last two seasons.
The Knights used a box-and-one defense those past matchups, but Friday night they sat in a 2-3 zone and the Beavers ate them up.
“We had the best first-half all season,” Tenino coach Scott Ashmore said.
Tenino finished with three players in double figures, led by senior Ashley Schow who continued her shooting tear with a game-high 22 points. Senior guard Abby Severse added 16 points and senior post Alivia Hunter knocked in 12 points.
The Beavers struck early, reeling off a 22-8 run to start the game, using a cinch-tight press for the first six minutes to stun the Knights with deflections and turnovers.
Tenino then outscored the Knights 19-9 in the second quarter to take a commanding 41-17 lead at the break, buoyed by Severse’s four 3-pointers in the first half.
The Beavers kept up their defensive prowess in the second half, holding the Knights to just one point in the third quarter and nine in the fourth.
Tenino held Knights’ star Laurel Quinn below her season average of 24 as she finished with 17 on the night, including just three in the second half.
“The girls played hard,” Ashmore said. “The core group of six seniors just worked hard. We feed off our defense.”
Tenino (12-3, 3-0 Evergreen) hosts rival Montesano at 6 p.m. Saturday for sole possession of first place in the 1A Evergreen League.
