Prep girls basketball: W.F. West sets tone early, rolls over Shelton

By Zach Martin / zach@chronline.com
Posted 1/17/25

Tip-off took place on the dot at 7 o’clock. When the final buzzer sounded, it was 7:57 p.m.

Most nights in the Evergreen Conference are quick ones involving the W.F. West High School girls …

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Prep girls basketball: W.F. West sets tone early, rolls over Shelton

Posted

Tip-off took place on the dot at 7 o’clock. When the final buzzer sounded, it was 7:57 p.m.

Most nights in the Evergreen Conference are quick ones involving the W.F. West High School girls basketball team. Often, they prefer not to waste time.

And they didn’t on Friday night.

The Bearcats scored the first 13 points, had four different runs of at least 10 points and remained perfect in the league with a 70-23 thrashing of Class 3A Shelton, who was also without a loss against EvCo opponents.

“We have the mindset of no one is better than us and we want to go out and prove we’re the best team in the league,” senior guard Grace Simpson said. “That motivates us to keep going and get ready for those bigger, important games.”

Since the start of league play 10 days ago, W.F. West (14-1, 4-0 EvCo) has scored at least 60 points and allowed under 30 three times. Its defense forced seven first quarter turnovers and made quick work of transition buckets.

One of the Bearcats’ calling cards is the ability to get up and down the floor in a hurry. They turned a Julia Dalan rebound into an Amanda Bennett assist into a layup by Dilyn Boeck, Madi McManus or Simpson.

They made it appear like a track meet. It wasn’t a neck-and-neck race, either.

“Lanes are cool, scoring is cool,” W.F. West head coach Kyle Karnofski said.

Shelton didn’t convert a field goal until there were 3 minutes, 23 seconds remaining in the opening frame. The Highclimbers made seven total shots from the field and none came from post Cedar Wily.

Two days after manhandling Centralia to the tune of 28 points, Wily was 0-for-5 from the field.

“We wanted to play with an edge tonight,” Karnofski said. “From the tone, last couple of days, use your pressure, use your speed, use your IQ, get out and go.”

Regular starters Rhylee Beebe and Kaitlyn Chloupek missed their second straight game for W.F. West. Karnofski once again mixed and matched rotations to find the best possible combination.

No matter who was on the court, the Bearcats didn’t miss a beat.

McManus, a sophomore, scored all 11 of her points in the second half while freshman Izzy Teeter added seven. Those two – alongside Simpson and Ellie Clinton – have been given more minutes in recent contests.

“Something unique to our program is that no matter who goes in, (the production) never dips,” Clinton said. “No one gets nervous; everyone trusts each other.”

Once Beebe and Chloupek return, Karnofski admitted it will be tough to keep those role players off the court.

“They’re giving us depth, which is awesome,” he said. “Our starters know if they don’t show up, these girls will give it to them.”

Dalan notched a 17-point, 17-rebound double-double and the Portland recruit had a couple blocks to boot. Boeck registered 16 points for W.F. West, who will make the short trip to Ron Brown Court on Tuesday for the first battle against Centralia in the Swamp Cup.

Even with some one-sided affairs as of late, the Bearcats don’t plan on letting the foot off the gas pedal anytime soon.

“We’re gonna peak at the right time and we haven’t peaked yet,” Simpson said.