Forks 71, Toutle Lake 66

By Michael Carmen

Olympic Peninsula News Group

FORKS — The Spartans hung on at the end and held back the Fightin’ Ducks in the first round of the Class 2B Southwest District 4 boys basketball tournament on Saturday.

“We made shots. If we can shoot that way we will be all right,” Forks coach Rick Gooding said.

“We are a team that’s getting a lot better with each game. We’ve had guys that have had a lot of experience the last couple of years and I think we are starting to scratch the surface.”

Forks led by as many as nine in the fourth quarter, before Toutle Lake capitalized on some late turnovers to cut the Spartans’ lead to one in the final minute.

Forks sophomore Aidan Salazar drained two free throws to put the Spartans back up three, and after a potential 3-pointer by Toutle went wide of the hoop, Logan Olson closed the game out with two more freebies.

“What a response,” Gooding said of Salazar. “He missed two free throws earlier and to bury two in a one-point playoff game?”

Riley Pursley led Forks with 22 points and Logan Olson had 21.

“Logan was Logan and Riley was Riley for us,” Gooding said.

Keaton Northcut boosted the Spartans with 13.

“He hit three big threes in the first half that kept us afloat,” Gooding said.

“Landin Davis came in and played tough defense and hit a big three. Brody Lausche played good, physical defense in the middle.”

Forks is likely to face Morton-White Pass in the quarterfinals on Wednesday at Montesano.

“Unless South Bend pulls the upset of the year, we will play Morton-White Pass,” Gooding said.

Forks 71, Toutle Lake 66

TL 13 17 19 17 — 66

Forks 11 22 21 17 — 71

Forks (71) — Pursley 22, Olson 21, Northcut 13, Salazar 8, Rancourt 4, Davis 3, Doyle, Lausche.