SINK 'EM, HEY! KITZMAN, FISHERMEN TOP WILDCATS
Anna Kitzman and Lanie Kary are two of the toughest, inside scorers in the S.W. Washington 1A Trico Division. If they consistently hit their free throws, they will be almost unstoppable.
That was the case Saturday night at Aase Gymnsasium. Kitzman, with the outside shots not falling, went to the baseline game. Kary just did what she always does: eat up one-on-one matchups and shoot over or battle through double teams to score or go to the line. The two players recent struggles at the charity stripe were a thing of the past as they shot a combined 22-for-23 at the line in a 55-35 Ilwaco victory over the La Center Wildcats.
With Kalama winning all of its league games last week, the Chinooks visit Ilwaco Tuesday night with a one-game lead over the Lady Fishermen in the Trico Division and two games left on the schedule. Kalama beat Ilwaco 44-42 a couple of weeks ago on a night when Kitzman and Kary combined to shoot 3-for-9 at the line in a winnable game.
"We had to go back to work on that," said head coach Ned Bittner. "We've spent the same amount of time we have all year, but it's a little more mental at this time of year. Just talking about it and saying we have to take advantage and knock our free throws down and we'll be tough to stop.
"When you're shots aren't dropping, to draw fouls and get to the free throw line, you can make that easy 15-footer. We didn't hit a lot of shots tonight, but we were still able to attack the basket and get to the free throw line."
Kitzman struggled through a 3-for-15 shooting night and misfired on all seven of her 3-point shot attempts, but the senior, 4-year letterwinner was money on those easy 15-footers, shooting a perfect 16-for-16 at the line to finish with 22 points, five assists and three steals. Kary added 18 points and eight rebounds, shooting 6-for-12 from the field and 6-for-7 at the line. The Lady Fishermen shot a superb 25-fo-29 at the free throw line (86%), which, believe it or not, is not the best performance of the season. Ilwaco hit 29-of-32 free throws in a win at Rochester earlier this season.
While Ilwaco had its struggles shooting and holding onto rebounds Saturday night, they were fortunate to be playing a rebuilding La Center team that is a little shy on shooters. The Wildcats shot just 22% from the field, while being outscored 25-4 at the free throw line.
While the girls pursue a Trico League title, the boys postseason hopes are fading fast. After losing at home Friday to Stevenson, the Ilwaco boys played Saturday at La Center without four key players, including top scorers Anthony Wirkkala (sick) and Matt Kaino (ankle). Unsurprisingly, the Wildcats throttled the Fishermen 84-46, pretty much ending their hopes for a district tournament berth.
Ilwaco and La Center's girls will see each other again on Thursday at La Center. Ilwaco's game Tuesday against Kalama will be a doubleheader with the boys game up first at 5:45 p.m. Only the boys game will be broadcast on SportsRadio 1230 ESPN. There will be no junior varsity games Tuesday night. Ilwaco's close out the season at home against La Center on Friday
LA CENTER 8 7 9 11 --35
Grove 1, Verhagen 2, De Kalb, Baker 8, Gaston 10, Trigg 8, Wise 4.
ILWACO 12 18 10 15 -- 55
Perez 3, Kitzman 22, Brooks 2, Bliss 6, Kary 18, Moses 4, Hankins.
FIELD GOALS-LAC; 13-60-22%, ILW: 15-48-31%
3-PT FG'S-LAC: 3-18-17%, ILW: 0-7-0%
FREE THROWS-LAC: 4-8-50%, ILW: 25-29-86%
REBOUNDS-LAC: 38, ILW: 43
TURNOVERS-LAC: 20, ILW: 20
That was the case Saturday night at Aase Gymnsasium. Kitzman, with the outside shots not falling, went to the baseline game. Kary just did what she always does: eat up one-on-one matchups and shoot over or battle through double teams to score or go to the line. The two players recent struggles at the charity stripe were a thing of the past as they shot a combined 22-for-23 at the line in a 55-35 Ilwaco victory over the La Center Wildcats.
With Kalama winning all of its league games last week, the Chinooks visit Ilwaco Tuesday night with a one-game lead over the Lady Fishermen in the Trico Division and two games left on the schedule. Kalama beat Ilwaco 44-42 a couple of weeks ago on a night when Kitzman and Kary combined to shoot 3-for-9 at the line in a winnable game.
"We had to go back to work on that," said head coach Ned Bittner. "We've spent the same amount of time we have all year, but it's a little more mental at this time of year. Just talking about it and saying we have to take advantage and knock our free throws down and we'll be tough to stop.
"When you're shots aren't dropping, to draw fouls and get to the free throw line, you can make that easy 15-footer. We didn't hit a lot of shots tonight, but we were still able to attack the basket and get to the free throw line."
Kitzman struggled through a 3-for-15 shooting night and misfired on all seven of her 3-point shot attempts, but the senior, 4-year letterwinner was money on those easy 15-footers, shooting a perfect 16-for-16 at the line to finish with 22 points, five assists and three steals. Kary added 18 points and eight rebounds, shooting 6-for-12 from the field and 6-for-7 at the line. The Lady Fishermen shot a superb 25-fo-29 at the free throw line (86%), which, believe it or not, is not the best performance of the season. Ilwaco hit 29-of-32 free throws in a win at Rochester earlier this season.
While Ilwaco had its struggles shooting and holding onto rebounds Saturday night, they were fortunate to be playing a rebuilding La Center team that is a little shy on shooters. The Wildcats shot just 22% from the field, while being outscored 25-4 at the free throw line.
While the girls pursue a Trico League title, the boys postseason hopes are fading fast. After losing at home Friday to Stevenson, the Ilwaco boys played Saturday at La Center without four key players, including top scorers Anthony Wirkkala (sick) and Matt Kaino (ankle). Unsurprisingly, the Wildcats throttled the Fishermen 84-46, pretty much ending their hopes for a district tournament berth.
Ilwaco and La Center's girls will see each other again on Thursday at La Center. Ilwaco's game Tuesday against Kalama will be a doubleheader with the boys game up first at 5:45 p.m. Only the boys game will be broadcast on SportsRadio 1230 ESPN. There will be no junior varsity games Tuesday night. Ilwaco's close out the season at home against La Center on Friday
LA CENTER 8 7 9 11 --35
Grove 1, Verhagen 2, De Kalb, Baker 8, Gaston 10, Trigg 8, Wise 4.
ILWACO 12 18 10 15 -- 55
Perez 3, Kitzman 22, Brooks 2, Bliss 6, Kary 18, Moses 4, Hankins.
FIELD GOALS-LAC; 13-60-22%, ILW: 15-48-31%
3-PT FG'S-LAC: 3-18-17%, ILW: 0-7-0%
FREE THROWS-LAC: 4-8-50%, ILW: 25-29-86%
REBOUNDS-LAC: 38, ILW: 43
TURNOVERS-LAC: 20, ILW: 20
posted by Matt Richert at 11:52 AM
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