Girls Basketball Forks 59, Winlock 55

February 9, 2022 1:30 am
On the defense for Forks are Candida-Rose Sandoval (1) and Kadie Wood (2) against the Winlock Cardinal in this District Four playoff held in the Spartan gym on Saturday, Feb 5. Looking on is Forks Keira Johnson (5). Forks defeated Winlock 59 to 55 to earn advancement in the winner’s bracket. Photo by Lonnie Archibald
On the defense for Forks are Candida-Rose Sandoval (1) and Kadie Wood (2) against the Winlock Cardinal in this District Four playoff held in the Spartan gym on Saturday, Feb 5. Looking on is Forks Keira Johnson (5). Forks defeated Winlock 59 to 55 to earn advancement in the winner’s bracket. Photo by Lonnie Archibald

By Michael Carman

Olympic Peninsula News Group

FORKS — Sophomore Keira Johnson hit a pair of clutch free throws to ice a Class 2B Southwest District Tournament win for the Spartans.

It was the Forks girls’ first district victory since a win over Rochester in 2009.

“We were up two and Keira got fouled with seven seconds left and went to the line for a one-and-one with seven seconds left,” Spartans coach David Hurn said. “She hit both to put the game out of reach.”

Johnson led Forks with 26 points. Kadie Wood had 19 for the Spartans.

“This is a big deal for us,” Hurn said. “I told the girls not to take these opportunities lightly and they went out and played so hard with such high energy. It just made me proud of them and all their hard work. We haven’t won a district game in I don’t know how long, so winning against a team from that stacked Central League is a big step for us.”

Forks (10-7) will face Onalaska (15-4) on Tuesday in the quarterfinals likely at Montesano.

Forks 59, Winlock 55

Win. 13 10 19 13 — 55

Forks 10 18 15 16 — 59

Forks (59) — Johnson 26, Wood 19, Sandoval 7, Neel 7.

Sports Editor Pierre Labossiere contributed to this article.