NAPAVINE — Toledo made a late push in Napavine on Monday night, but the Tigers did enough to hold off the Riverhawks for a 60-53 win.
With the win, the Tigers (13-2, 10-1 C2BL) remain one …
Unlock unlimited access for just $1 for your first month
Please log in to continue |
NAPAVINE — Toledo made a late push in Napavine on Monday night, but the Tigers did enough to hold off the Riverhawks for a 60-53 win.
With the win, the Tigers (13-2, 10-1 C2BL) remain one of two teams with just one loss in the C2BL, and they remain tied with Adna for first place.
“Winning is always good,” Napavine coach Eric Hersman said. “It’s tough in the 2B Central.”
Napavine came out of the gate strong on Monday, opening up a 10-1 lead, but Toledo responded with a 12-1 run of their own to take a lead after one.
The Tigers took a two-point lead into halftime, thanks in large part to a solid half from beyond the arc. They shot just 8 for 25 from the field in the first half, but went 5 for 8 from three.
Early in the second half, Napavine extended its lead to double-digits.
“Ten points is a lot,” Toledo coach Grady Fallon said. “Especially against a good team. You just gotta fight the whole time. We were scrapping and fighting for everything.”
Early in the second half, Napavine’s press was giving Toledo issues, as it had earlier in the game before Toledo settled in. The Tigers also did a better job forcing Toledo to take tough shots.
“You make little adjustments throughout the game,” Hersman said. “I thought we did a better job of closing out on shooters in that second half and pursuing key rebounds.”
The Riverhawks didn’t go quietly, however, battling back to get within three in the final minute. They couldn’t get the tying basket, and a flurry of late Napavine free throws pushed it out of reach.
“We had a shot at the end,” Fallon said. “We shouldn’t feel bad about it. They’re a good team, and we were close.”
Karsen Denault finished with an 18-point, 17-rebound double-double to lead the Tigers, and he also chipped in a pair of blocks and assists.
“Karsen’s terrific,” Hersman said. “He plays with a lot of energy, and really leads us. It’s nice when your leading scorer is also your leading hustle guys. He’s a coach's dream.”
Cal Bullock scored 14 points, brought down seven rebounds, and nabbed six steals, while Beckett Landram scored 12.
Hudson Chambers scored seven, Grady Wilson added six, and Jack Nelson tallied two points and five rebounds.
Nelson and Tyler Watson did a great job on the interior defensively, limiting Toledo’s Cooper Fallon to just eight points and nine rebounds. It’s just the second time this season that Cooper Fallon hasn’t recorded a double-double.
Fallon also added five assists, five blocks, and two steals, while Adam Kruger finished with a team-high 17 points and seven rebounds. Conner Hill scored 14 points, and Eli Weeks scored nine points, grabbed six rebounds, and had three steals.
While Napavine and Adna are now two losses clear of Toledo at the top of the C2BL standings, the Riverhawks (13-3, 9-3 C2BL) are still a game and a half clear of Rainier for third.
Both Hersman and Grady Fallon mentioned the possibility that their teams would meet again in districts and beyond, and they didn’t rule out meetings against the other two teams in the top four either.
“Regroup, refocus, tweak some things, maybe a shot or two falls, and you never know,” Grady Fallon said. “That’s why you play.”
“I imagine those four will see each other down the road,” Hersman said.
Both teams are back on Wednesday, when Napavine will be back at home to host Toutle Lake and Toledo will be on the road again at Onalaska.