Cardinals Take Two Wins, One Loss Into Christmas Break

Waitsburg 41, Oakesdale37

WAITSBURG – Waitsburg senior Kyle Gradwohl put up 19 points and played tough defense as the Waitsburg boys' basketball team beat the Oakesdale Nighthawks, 41-37 at home on Saturday.

The Cards and the Nighthawks got off to a slow start, putting up just 10 combined points in the first quarter, including a Jordan French 3 pointer in the first minute of play. The Nighthawks put their first point on the board with a single free throw with 2:29 left on the clock, followed by another single free throw with just 40 seconds left in the quarter.

With the score 8-2 to begin the second quarter, Kyle Gradwohl made a strong drive down the key, scoring and drawing the foul for a possible 3-point play. Though both teams hustled, the score at halftime was just 16-11 with the Nighthawks outscoring the home team in the second quarter, 9-8.

And then the game really began. Both teams came out ready to play in the third quarter. For the Cards, Landon Callas scored on a quick inside move, and the Nighthawks' starting freshman, Matt Hocket, answered with a long two. Dunn scored on an offensive put-back, and Oaksdale's Cal Gregory answered again with a long three, bringing the score to 20-17.

The Cards were unable to convert on the next possession, but back on defense, Gradwohl swiped the ball and scored on a fast break. Oaksdale answered again and then Gradwohl scored back-to-back baskets on an inbound pass and then a baseline move.

Dunn hit a long 2, and the visitors called a time out. After the break, Gradwohl was fouled driving down the center. With just 35 seconds left in the 3rd, Oaksdale hit another long three, then stole the inbound pass and scored the final basket of the quarter, to pull within five, 29-24.

The battle continued with both teams fighting hard on the boards and playing great defense.

Oaksdale had first possession and scored a big three just seconds in. Gradwohl came right back with a bucket and then the Nighthawks scored on a big offensive board, staying within 3.

Gradwohl scored, breaking the press. With 6:40 left to play, Garrity earned his fourth foul and Oaksdale sank both free throws, getting back to within 3, 34-31.

The next two minutes, defensive hustle kept the game lively, with Waitsburg's Cade Branson wrestling hard for a loose ball and was rewarded by the favor of the possession arrow.

With just four minutes left, Dunn went up strong on the offensive board and scored the put-back, and again, Oaksdale answered, to close to 36-33. With 2:24 left, Garrity was fouled hard and sank both free throws and the Hawks scored again bringing the score to 38-35 with under two minutes left.

With 58 ticks left, Dunn was fouled on the offensive board and made one of two.

With just 34 seconds left, Jordan French was called for a defensive reach on Evan Henning and then called for a technical foul. Henning made his two free throws for the regular foul and Austin Rutledge made 1 of 2 on the technical, to again bring Oaksdale back to within striking distance,39-36.

Waitsburg finished with three points from free throws, as Garrity, Gradwohl and Callas each went 1 for 2 at the line.

Oaksdale 2 9 13 13 - 37

Waitsburg 8 8 13 13 - 42

Oaksdale - Henning 9, Hockett 7, Rutledge 7, Anderson 5, Gregory 5, Himes 4, Schell 0

Waitsburg – Gradwohl 19, Dunn 11, Garrity 6, French 3, Callas 3, Branson 0, Kitselman 0, Martin 0, Miller 0

Waitsburg 56, Touchet 42

WAITSBURG – Jacob Dunn lead the Waitsburg Cardinals with 19 points and 13 boards to beat Touchet at home, 56-42, in a makeup game on Dec. 13. Both teams got off to a slow start, as the weather and road conditions kept them off the court during the previous week.

"Both teams had been snowed out of games, school and practices so the game was a little sloppy," said Cardinal Coach Tavis Crittenden.

Coach Crittenden used the Card's height advantage down low to beat the Indians. In addition to Dunn, whose 19-point evening included three 3-pointers, Kyle Gradwohl scored 13 points, Landon Callas 11, and Jordan Garrity added another 10.

The Cards focused on their defense under the basket and did their best to keep the ball away from Touchet's big man, James Kates, holding him to just seven points. Touchet Junior Hayden Schaeffer led the Indians offense, hitting four 3-pointers. Also scoring, Justin Warner with eight, Lot Butler had six and Titus Miller contributed five. Brian Andrade and Isaac Gutierrez chipped in a basket apiece.

With the cards leading 42-22 going into the final quarter, Dunn and Gradwohl took a seat, supporting their teammates, who put 14 points on the board to seal the victory. Touchet scored 20 in the fourth quarter, and pulled within 10 at one point, but lost the battle: final score 56-42.

Touchet 9 9 4 20 - 42

Waitsburg 11 18 13 14 - 56

Touchet (42) -Miller 2 0-0 6, Guiterrez 1 0-0 2, Andrade 1 0-0 2, Preciado 0 0-0 0, Butler 3 0-0 6, Schaeffer 4 0-0 12, Kates 3 1-1 7, Warren 3 2-4 9, Team 17 3-5 42.

Waitsburg (56) –Callas 4 2-2 11, Terry 0 0-0 0, Garrity 5 0-0 10, French 1 0-0 2, Miller 0 0-0 0, Kitselman 0 0-0 0, Dunn 7 2-4 19, Martin 0 0-0 0, Gradwohl 4 4-5 13, Branson 0 1-2 1, Team 21 9-13 56.

3-Point Goals –Touchet 5 (Schaeffer 4), Waitsburg 5 (Dunn 3), Total fouls – Touchet 14, Waitsburg 8, Fouled Out – None, Technical Fouls – None, Rebounds – Touchet n/a, Waitsburg 43 (Dunn 13), Turnovers – Touchet n/a, Waitsburg 19. Assists – Touchet n/a, Waitsburg 15 (Gradwohl 4, Dunn 4)

Pomeroy 67, Waitsburg 45

POMEROY – A quick Pomeroy Pirates team beat the Waitsburg boys in Southeast B1 play Friday night, 67-45.

While the Cards' Jacob Dunn and Kyle Gradwohl combined for 32 points, Pomeroy's Ryan Wolf and Jace Gwynn scored 13 points apiece for the Pirates.

Freezing weather may be to blame for the slow start by both teams Friday, as the score at the end of the first quarter read 15-4 Pirates. The Cardinals put up 16 points in the second quarter to end the half with 20, trailing the Pirates by 14.

The Cardinals scored 25 points in the second half to end the game with 45. Leading the way in scoring for Waitsburg, Jacob Dunn had 17 points, Kyle Gradwohl 15, followed by Callas with 4, French and Martin with 3 apiece, Branson 2 and Garrity 1.

For the Pirates – Wolf 13, Gwinn 13, Tewalt 10, Slaybaugh and Morfin each with 8, Caruso 6, Heytvelt 5, LaMunyan and Hyer with a basket a piece, Lyle 0, for a total of 67.

Waitsburg 4 16 10 15 - 45

Pomeroy 15 19 19 14 - 67