Middle School Sports

Published 11:08 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

The Snoqualmie Middle School eighth-grade varsity used a combination of strong defense and balanced scoring to defeat visiting Beaver Lake, 41-28. Maegan Welcome came out and played a stifling defense effectively shutting down their leading scorer, helping to inspire her teammates Kelsey Walker, Jordyn Wilson and Daionda Davis to also dominate their opponents. Catie Richards was all over the floor, both on offense and defense. Richards led a balanced scoring attack, banking in shots from inside and torching the nets from outside to lead all scorers with 18 points. Danielle Crabtree was a force inside, connecting on some tough shots for 10 points, while Jordyn Wilson sliced and diced the Bulldog’s defense for another 10. Rachel Nyberg finished off the scoring, lofting a three-pointer from downtown.

Eagles fall to Tolt

The Snoqualmie Middle School eighth-grade varsity basketball team lost a nail-biter to Tolt, 42-39, last week. The contest was close throughout the game with Amy Martin setting mean picks while sweeping the boards and five other players contributing to the scoreboard. Despite Catie Richard’s game high 21 points, followed by Jordyn Wilson’s six, the team could not hold back the Thunderbirds. Daionda Davis added five, Danielle Crabtree had five and Maegan Welcome had two. In other action against league leading Pine Lake, the Eagles, in an emotionally-packed game, played inspired basketball, but came up short, 44-36. Wilson led all scorers with 18 points, with Richards adding 13.

Tolt girls win four straight

Tolt Middle School’s eighth-grade girls’ basketball team continues to impress and even surprise their fans with four wins in a row after the holiday break. Victories over Issaquah, Snoqualmie, Chief Kanim and Beaver Lake has the team on a roll.

Rachael Kevin scored 24 points and Haley Clapp scored nine in a 44-39 victory over Issaquah to start the streak. Next up was a rematch vs. Snoqualmie. The Eagles had beaten Tolt by three points in an earlier game this season and Tolt came in hungry for a victory. After a sluggish start and trailing 15 to 11 at the half, the team regrouped and exploded for 31 points in the second half and held on to a 42-39 victory over Snoqualmie Middle School. Brooke Chapman scored 11, Sara Houser and Kevin had nine each, Clapp scored six and Jackie Taylor had four. Kylie Rekers had two and Michaela Richter scored one point.

Tolt then traveled to Chief Kanim and got an overtime victory, despite missing two key players. Chief Kanim’s star pointguard scored 44 points, but some great team play by Tolt keyed the second win of the season against the Hawks. Clapp had a huge game scoring 18 points, and Taylor sank a three-pointer and scored 11 total. Chapman sank two free throws with seconds left to send the game into overtime. She finished with 13 points. Hauser played great defense and scored eight, and Rekers sank two free throws in overtime. Natasha Reierson and Shannon Bailey added some great defense.

The Thunderbirds then traveled to Beaver Lake. The team appeared a bit tired but struggled to win over a stubborn Bulldog team. The final score was 31 to 28 for the second victory over Beaver Lake this season.

Tolt eighth-graders finish with win

Sara Houser’s four pointer in the first half and a relentless full-court press triggered at 29-13 first-half lead for the Tolt Middle School Thunderbirds as the girls’ eighth-grade basketball team cruised to a 44-25 victory over Maywood. The T-birds had been beaten by Maywood earlier this season.

Rachael Kevin, Brooke Chapman, Haley Clapp and Natasha Reierson were all key players in the pressure defense that shot the team out to a 16-4 first-quarter lead and sealed their fifth win in a row.

Tolt finished the season with an impressive 7 win, 3 loss record, improving dramatically from their 2 and 7 record last season as seventh-graders. Lots of hard work, commitment to goals and the ability to play through adversity were the keys to this successful season.

Hawks lose heartbreaker

The Chief Kanim Hawks’ seventh-grade girls’ basketball team lost a close game to Pine Lake last week, 29-31. The Hawks played their best game of the year as they ran the floor and played intense defense. Brielle Buhner led the effort with 17 points and seven rebounds while Alyssa McCaulkin had nine points and seven rebounds. Brie Busby added three points and seven rebounds, MacKenzie Curley had an assist, MacKenzie Will had a steal, Brittany Bair had a steal, Jessarreh Helm had an assist, Shauna Reed had two rebounds, Abi Peterson had two rebounds and Grace Washam had a steal.