The Rainier boys basketball team dropped two games to its opponents last week.
On Tuesday, Dec. 13, the Napavine boys basketball team and James Grose, in particular, showed no sign of slowing down.
Grose led the Tigers to a 86-58 win over Rainier, scoring a game-high 35 points as one of three Napavine players in double figures.
Jarin Prather and Jack Nelson had 16 and 10 points, respectively, to help the Tigers as well.
Napavine got off to a hot start, outscoring the Mountaineers 29-9 in the opening frame.
Rainier was led by the scoring of Gavin Owen, who dropped 14 points. Jimmy Meldrum and Jared Sprouffske also each had 12.
“They jumped out to a big lead early,” Mountaineers coach Ben Sheaffer said. “We battled back in the second quarter and had a little momentum going into the half, but Napavine came out with another 29-point quarter in the third. Sometimes there isn’t much to say other than they are good and we have work to do.”
Then on Thursday, Dec. 15, the Mountaineers took on Wahkiakum on the road.
Trailing 33-17 at the half, the Rainier boys basketball team couldn’t quite make up the deficit in a 59-47 loss to Wahkiakum in Cathlamet Thursday night.
The Mountaineers turned the ball over too many times and dug themselves into too deep a hole in the loss.
“Turnovers and empty possessions really cost us tonight,” Sheaffer said. “They are a good club that has some really skilled offensive players. We battled in the second half and made a nice run, but it was too little, too late.”
Jake (11), Josh (10), and Jimmy (10) Meldrum all scored in double figures, and Sheaffer commended the play of Sprouffske, who scored 11 and was physical on both sides of the ball.
The Mountaineers were set to take on Tenino at home on Tuesday, Dec. 20.
