ADNA — In a critical league game at home, the Adna girls basketball team needed to come out on top. Seeking to host a first round district game starting next Saturday, the Pirates got exactly what they needed in a 53-42 win over Napavine Friday night.
Though it didn’t come without some stress.
Trailing by just seven or nine for most of the game, Napavine made three straight from distance to come dangerously close to upsetting the Pirates at home. But after Adna settled down and broke through the Tigers’ press several times for easy layups, the Pirates put it away late in a win.
Karlee Von Moos led the Pirates with 14 points, and Faith Wellander was the only other Pirate in double figures with 13 points. The usual scorers for Adna, Brooklyn Loose and Kaylin Todd, dealt with some shooting struggles, so other girls answered the call.
“Summer White stepped it up, if Loose does what she’s been doing we probably break their backs a little and we’re up by more,” Adna coach Chris Bannish said. “It’s basketball, you aren’t going to make them every time. Karlee Von Moos inside in the second half came up big. Then they gambled a bit and brought an extra man up in pressure and we were able to break that pressure to get some easy layups.”
On the other side, the Tigers kept at it, never going away, but were never able to get within striking distance to try to steal a win on the road and help their own league standing heading into districts.
Guard Avery Schutz led the Tiger attack with 18 points, and Grace Gall had 10, but just four Napavine players got on the scoresheet in a tough offensive outing against Adna’s press.
With multiple wins under its belt after a short losing streak, the Pirates now have the momentum they feel they need heading into a crucial final week of the regular season, starting with Wahkiakum on Monday.
“I felt like Wahkiakum is a team we should be able to play with,” Bannish said. “We’re not there yet, but we’re coming along. We’re slowly coming along here.”
Napavine, meanwhile, will play host to Stevenson at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
