CASTLE ROCK — Now winners of 10 of its last 11 contests, the Morton-White Pass boys basketball team decimated Forks in the 2B District 4 quarterfinals at Castle Rock Wednesday, 70-37.
In a game that was never close, the Timberwolves stymied the Spartans behind a brilliant defensive display, and got out and ran to a double-digit lead minutes into the game. They never looked back in the dominant win.
“We did a great job of staying connected defensively,” MWP coach Chad Cramer said. “Our kids did a great job of executing the game plan, a masterful job. I was really proud defensively of what we were able to do and take them out of what they liked.”
The T-Wolves held the Spartans to just four first quarter points, and outscored them in every frame in the win, led by the early scoring of Gary Dotson and Josh Salguero, who had 14 combined points in the first quarter.
Dotson ended up leading the Timberwolves with 16 points, but Leytan Collette and Salguero weren’t far behind with 15 points apiece.
“We had a size advantage, and we knew we wanted to take advantage,” Cramer said. “Our first few sets were designed to go right inside, we wanted to let the big guys eat in there and work our way out.”
Now, MWP just has to keep chugging. The T-Wolves have lost just one game over their last 11, and head into a semifinal bout with Adna next week with a shot at a district title on the line.
The Pirates were the only team to beat the Timberwolves over their last 11 games.
“Luke does a great job and they obviously have a ton of shooters,” Cramer said. “I have a ton of respect for them. It’s going to be a ball game.”
That game will be played next Wednesday at Kelso High School.
