Clatskanie girls settle for #2 seeding

The Clatskanie girls basketball team split a pair of games last week, resulting in a #2 seeding entering its state tournament play, which begins Friday, Feb 28. Finishing the regular season with an 18-5 record, including a 12-2 record in 2A Northwest League play, the Tigers began their postseason with a close 36-33 home win over Nestucca on Thursday, Feb. 20. The Bobcats stayed close throughout, trailing Clatskanie by three entering the second and third quarter and outscoring the Tigers 9-7 in the fourth. Sophomore Lacey Willis led all scorers with 16 points and had 10 rebounds to complete the double double. Junior Joey Sizemore reached the 1,000 point mark for her high school career Thursday, scoring 10 and pulling down 10 rebounds as well for a double double of her own. Sizemore led the team in assists with six and blocks with three. Sophomore Olivia George led the Tigers in rebounds with 13 and steals with four. Displaying what Coach Dawn Warren described as an "incredible defensive night," junior Mya Jensen led the team with six deflections to go along with her two steals.

The victory guaranteeing the girls at least a #2 seeding, Clatskanie took on Knappa for the third time this season last Saturday in Vernonia. Trailing 17-4 entering the second quarter, the Tigers outscored the Loggers 11-2 to enter halftime only down by four. Knappa would stretch its lead to 19 entering the fourth quarter by allowing only three points to Clatskanie in the third. The Tigers outscored the Loggers 10-5 in the fourth to bring the final score to 42-28. Sizemore led the girls with 19 points on 4 of 12 shooting from the field. Sizemore also led the team in rebounds with 11 to make for another double double. Jensen had two assists to lead the Tigers.

Clatskanie (19-6) will take on Halsey's Central Linn in a "do or die" game Friday, Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. The results on Friday's game will be included in next week's edition of the Wahkiakum County Eagle.