Geoducks Break Through In 74-64 Win Over Beacons

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Breaking a 24-game conference losing streak, the Evergreen Geoducks got into the win column with a 74-64 victory over the Northwest Christian Beacons in a Cascade Conference men’s basketball game on Tuesday night at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

The Geoducks (2-9, 1-2 CCC) opened up the night with a three-pointer by senior Travis Wagner (Federal Way, Wash./Green River CC) and the baskets would continue to fall.  The Beacons (7-9, 1-3 CCC) kept things close, making their fair share of buckets as well.   The first half would end up seeing the lead change six times and tied 10 times as Evergreen held a slight lead at the break, 35-32.

Northwest Christian opened up the second half with four quick points that gave them a one-point lead but a layup by Marc Taylor (Boise, Idaho/Edmonds CC) with 17:50 left to play put the Geoducks up by one and Evergreen wouldn’t trail the rest of the way.  The lead hit double-digits with 8:53 left on the clock as freshman Frankie Johnson (Renton, Wash./Hazen HS) hit a jumper that put Evergreen up 55-45.

The lead grew to as many as 13 on the back end of two free throws by Johnson with 2:45 left to play.  Northwest Christian didn’t go down without a fight, getting back within six on a three-pointer by Trevor Parker with 18 second left to play but the Geoducks hit their free throws down the stretch to earn the 74-64 win.

The win is the first for Evergreen in CCC play since earning a 79-76 overtime win over Southern Oregon on Feb. 5, 2011, a streak of 24 games.

Evergreen was led by 18 points from KJ Hong (Federal Way, Wash./Shoreline CC).  Johnson finished with 15 points after having just two in the first half.  The Geoducks shot 44.9% on the night, making 22 of 49 from the field.  Evergreen also converted on 23 of 33 from the charity stripe, shooting 69.7% on free throws.

Northwest Christian was led by 17 points off the bench from Parker.  Wyatt Taboh-Graziano put up 15 points while Brody McGowan finished with 13 points in the losing effort.  The Beacons outrebounded Evergreen, 40-31, on the night but committed 20 turnovers as well.

Evergreen hits the road this weekend as they travel to Eastern Oregon on Friday.  Tip with the Mountaineers is set for 7:30 p.m. in La Grande, Ore.

Box Score

Beacons Stop Geoducks, 43-40

OLYMPIA, Wash. – In a defensive battle that saw just 83 combined points scored, the Northwest Christian Beacons held off the Evergreen Geoducks, 43-40, in a Cascade Conference women’s basketball game on Tuesday night at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

The Geoducks (2-4, 2-1 CCC) got off to a quick start, taking a ten-point lead just over five minutes into the game at 13-3.  The Beacons (8-6, 2-2 CCC) fought back, using a 12-2 run to pull even with 11:30 to go in the first half.  After trading baskets, both teams would go cold to end the half as neither team managed a score in the final 3:24 of the first half, giving Evergreen a 24-22 lead into the break.

In the second half, the game continued to stay tight as baskets were elusive for both squads.  With the game tied at 40-40, the Beacons managed to score the final three points of the game as Northwest Christian dropped Evergreen from the ranks of the conference unbeaten, earning the 43-40 win.

Evergreen was led by 10 points and nine rebounds from Jessica Denmon (Oak Harbor, Wash./Skagit Valley CC).  Junior Danielle Swain (Rainier, Wash./Black Hills HS) brought down a game-high 12 rebounds for the Geoducks, who held a 45-38 advantage on the glass.

Northwest Christian was led by 10 points each from Lindsey Shearer and Haley Vandenhazel.  Tami Brown came off the bench to collect 10 rebounds in the win.  The Beacons finished 17-of-51 shooting for 33.3%.

Evergreen has a quick turnaround as they hit the road Thursday for a Friday matchup at Eastern Oregon.  Tip with the Mountaineers is set for 5:30 p.m. in La Grande, Ore.

Box Score

Warriors Wrap Up Win Over Geoducks, 68-57

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Outscoring the Geoducks, 42-29, in the second half, the Corban Warriors earned their first conference win of the season, earning the 68-57 win over Evergreen in a Cascade Conference men’s basketball game on Monday night at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

The two teams battled in the first half as the Geoducks (1-9, 0-2 CCC) overcame an early deficit to take the advantage.  Evergreen controlled the glass in the first half, outrebounding Corban (4-6, 1-2 CCC) by a total of 23-14 in the first 20 minutes as the Geoducks took a 28-26 lead into the break.

In the second half, the Warriors retook the lead early and slowly built it, pulling ahead by double-digits with 12:57 left to play on a jumper by Andrew Evans.  The advantage grew to as large as 15 before the Geoducks whittled it down to 11 at the end, falling 68-57.  Corban was aided by 11-of-16 shooting from the charity stripe in the second half as they earned the comeback win.

Evergreen was led by 11 points from junior KJ Hong (Federal Way, Wash./Shoreline CC), the only Geoducks in double-digit scoring.  The green and white finished tired with the blue and gold in rebounds, with 38 boards each.

Corban was led by 12 points each from Marcus Butler, Josiah Sebens and Jacob Kopra.  Dustin Moore added 11 points while Andrew Evans chipped in nine, nearly putting all five Warrior starters in double-digit scoring.

The Geoducks will look to get back into the win column on Tuesday night, playing host to Northwest Christian.  Tip with the Beacons is set for approximately 7:30 p.m. at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

Box Score

Geoducks Squirt Past Corban, 65-62

OLYMPIA, Wash. – For just the fifth time in program history, the Evergreen Geoducks earned a win over the Corban Warriors, putting together a strong performance to earn a 65-56 victory in a Cascade Conference women’s basketball game on Monday night at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

The Warriors (3-10, 0-3 CCC) took the early lead, scoring the game’s first eight points.  The Geoducks (2-3, 2-0 CCC) fought back, taking the lead on a jumper by Brittnee Williams (Mukilteo, Wash./Edmonds CC) with 6:43 to go in the first half.  Evergreen continued to build the lead, taking a six-point advantage into the break at 33-27.

In the second half, the Geoducks pushed the lead to double-digits on another jumper by Williams with 17:45 left to play but Corban, the defending CCC regular season champions, didn’t back down, tying the game with 8:21 left to play. That would be the closest that the Warriors would get as the Geoducks dug deep and outscored Corban the rest of the way to earn the 65-56 win.

It was the first win for Evergreen over Corban since Jan. 23, 2010 when the Geoducks earned a 72-63 win in Olympia.

Evergreen was led by 15 points from Sammi Clark (Monroe, Wash./Edmonds CC), who also added six assists and five steals.  Sadee Jones (Belfair, Wash./North Mason HS), Maddie Graves (Spokane, Wash./Mead HS) and Williams each finished with nine points for Evergreen.  As a team, the Geoducks held a 38-30 advantage on the glass.

Corban was led by 16 points from Tara Vanweerdhuizen.  Julia Young added 14 points off the bench while Emily Tsugawa put together 10 points to go with eight assists, also having eight turnovers on the night.

The Geoducks will look to stay undefeated in conference play on Tuesday night when they play host to Northwest Christian.  Tip with the Beacons is set for 5:30 p.m. at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

Box Score

Wildcats Go Deep in 79-57 Win Over Geoducks

ELLENSBURG, Wash. – A well-matched game early eventually got away from the Evergreen Geoducks as they fell to the Central Washington Wildcats, 79-57, in a non-conference women’s basketball game on Friday night at Nicholson Pavilion in Ellensburg, Wash.  The game was an exhibition for Evergreen and a counting game for Central Washington.

The score stayed early as the teams exchanged leads for much of the opening period.  Whit the scored tied at 23-23 with 3:06 left to play, the Wildcats went on an 8-0 run but the Geoducks fought back, pulling within four points at halftime, down 33-29.

Evergreen was led in the first half by nine points from junior Danielle Swain (Rainier, Wash./Black Hills HS).  As a team, the Geoducks were 12-of-28 from the field for 42.9% as well at five-of-six from the charity stripe.

After Central pulled ahead by eight early in the second half, Evergreen fought back again, getting back within one point with 15:00 left to play.  The ‘Cats went back on the prowl, using a 10-0 run to push the lead into double-digits nearing the midpoint of the half.  CWU continued to push the lead as the game progressed, eventually earning the 79-57 win.

Swain led the way with 28 points on the game, including 19 in the second half.  Sophomore Sadee Jones (Belfair, Wash./North Mason HS) added nine points in the losing effort.  The Geoducks outrebounded CWU, 42-30, on the game but made just 24-of-62 attempts for 38.7%.

Central Washington was led by 19 points from Jessica VanDyke.  Leslie Stillar added 16 points in the win while Shayla Ball finished with 11 points on the night.  The Wildcats were helped by 13-of-24 shooting from behind the arc, using the extra points to slip past the Geoducks.

The Geoducks resume Cascade Conference play on Monday evening when they play host to Corban.  Tip with the Warriors is set for 5:30 p.m. at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

Box Score