By Michael Carman
FORKS — Neah Bay played the role of spoiler once again, handing the Forks boys basketball team its first defeat of the season in a tight 68-60 thriller, while the two-time defending state champion Red Devil girls shot the lights out against the Spartans in a 55-24 triumph.
Wednesday’s doubleheader opened with the boys game and both teams pushed the pace and put up points in a fast and furious first half with Neah Bay leading 35-34 at the break.
“Decent first half, came out and were able to be aggressive and put up points,” Spartans coach Keith Weekes said.
Neah Bay seized control of the game in the third quarter, limiting Forks to nine points.
“Came out slow in the second half, our basket attack and overall just bringing the ball down the court seemed a little more timid,” Weekes said. “Neah Bay did a good job just sitting back and baiting us to throw some passes we know we shouldn’t.”
Forks kept the game close until the end when the Red Devils hit free throws to close out the contest.
Tyler Swan connected on two fourth-quarter 3-point baskets and led all scorers with 20 points for Neah Bay. Swan added 13 rebounds, three steals and an assist.
Makyah Chambers was a disruptor for the Red Devils, adding 18 points, eight steals, three rebounds and a pair of assists.
Jodell Wimberly also had 10 points, five assists and five steals.
Forks’ Titus Rowley led the Spartans with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Brody Lausche added 12 and nine and Bubba Hernandez-Stansbury scored 12 with three steals.
“I think this was the first time our busy schedule has shown, playing three games a week, seventh overall, compared to just their second,” Weekes said. “The biggest difference in the game was their hard work was just a little bit better than ours. To have the game as close as it was, and the last few points for them were free throws from trying to foul at the end, knowing we have so much to fix was a positive.
“We gave up far too many offensive rebounds and turnovers, when you give a team 40 extra possessions, chances are you’re not going to win. We are satisfyingly unsatisfied, we know we missed an opportunity we are capable of taking, but we also know exactly what needs to be done in order to improve next time.
“The pressure of an undefeated season is gone, we go back to taking care of the next game in front of us.”
Forks (6-1) visits Montesano tonight in a boys/girls doubleheader starting at 5:15 p.m.
The Neah Bay boys will head to Waterville for a pair of games against Manson today and Lake Roosevelt on Saturday.
Neah Bay 68, Forks 60
Neah Bay 12 23 18 15 — 68
Forks 19 15 9 17 — 60
Neah Bay (68) — Swan 20, Chambers 18, Woodruff 11, Wimberly 10, Cumming 4, M. Greene 3, Jimmicum 2, A. Greene
Forks (60) — Rowley 15, Lausche 12, Hernandez-Stansbury 12, Davila 10, Lohrengel 8, Foster 3, Olson.
Girls game
FORKS — Qwaapeys Greene led Neah Bay with a 19-point, four assist, three steal performance in the Red Devils’ win over the Spartans.
Neah Bay was hot from the floor, hitting 22-of-42 shots from the floor (52.3-percent).
Red Devils coach Cherish Moss is looking for even more improvement defensively.
“I feel like offensively we are all a threat, but defensively we still have a long way to go and that’s our focus,” Moss said. “We know it will take a while but we will get there. And by defense I mean being in pinch, in help, helping the helper. We have to play defense as a team.”
Angel Halttunen added 10 points and Wiinuk Martin had nine for Neah Bay (4-0).
“We gave them a lot of opportunities in transition,” Forks coach David Hurn said. “Neah Bay made shots when they had to. On the contrary, we shot 15-percent from the field. Good defense from Neah Bay to limit our looks but we failed to execute. We made too many mistakes, so I have to do a better job coaching them up and getting them in the right spots.”
Neah Bay 55, Forks 24
Neah Bay 11 17 18 9 — 55
Forks 5 3 12 4 — 24
Neah Bay (55) — Greene 19, A. Halttunen 10, Martin 9, B. McGimpsey 6, K. McGimpsey 5, Ce. Moss 4, Ca. Moss 2, Yallup, D. Halttunen, Johnson.
