WOODLAND GUARD Tanner Froeber (1) had 13 points in the Beavers’ victory at Hockinson High School Thursday.
WOODLAND’S BRYCE MULDER (0) contests a shot by Hockinson’s Jared Broer (10) in a Jan. 16 game at Hockinson High School. Mulder blocked five shots in the game as the Beavers defeated the Hawks.
HOCKINSON FOUND good scoring opportunities hard to come by in a loss to Woodland Thursday at Hockinson High School. Here, Woodland’s Jake Rosenbalm (4) helps thwart an effort by Hockinson’s Austin Steimle (1).
To say the Woodland Beavers have been struggling with their shooting during road games recently would be more than just a mild understatement.
Heading into their game at Hockinson Thursday night, the Beavers had made just two of the previous 34 attempts from behind the 3-point line in their previous two games played away from Woodland High School. Not surprisingly, Woodland lost those two games – at Washougal and at R.A. Long.
The Beavers didn’t exactly singe the nets at Hockinson, but the three made 3-pointers in 12 attempts were enough to help Woodland register a 50-35 win over Hockinson.
“We hit three and that was good enough,’’ joked Woodland coach Jason Buffum, whose team improved to 3-3 in Class 2A Greater St. Helens League play with the win. Woodland is now 9-4 on the season.
Buffum said the key to the victory was his team’s effort on the defensive end of the court. Woodland held Hockinson to one made field goal in the fourth quarter en route to a 14-3 fourth quarter advantage that helped the Beavers cruise to the comfortable 15-point margin of victory.
“We were really solid defensively,’’ Buffum said. “Anytime you hold an opponent to one field goal in the fourth quarter, that’s a good measure of success.’’
Buffum said it was a great team effort on defense, but also pointed out that it started with the intimidating presence of 6-foot-11 center Bryce Mulder. Buffum said Mulder had five blocked shots in the win over the Hawks.
“He had five blocked shots, which means he probably changed about 15 shots,’’ Buffum said of his sophomore center. “Our guards also really tightened it up. We let them (the Hawks) get loose for a couple of 3s in the first half but down the stretch we had five guys working as one and we didn’t give them any open looks.’’
Tanner Froeber, a 6-1 senior guard, led the Beavers with 13 points. Buffum said Froeber was a key during the final two quarters of the game when Woodland outscored Hockinson 22-9.
“Tanner probably had the worst half of his basketball career in the first half,’’ Buffum said. “He was throwing the ball all over the place. But, he figured it out and came back in the second half to lead us to the victory.’’
Buffum said Froeber hit one of the team’s three 3-pointers and also added a couple circus-like shots in the lane.
“He had two penetrating, circus shots that gave us some crucial points,’’ Buffum said of Froeber.
Woodland also got its normal solid production from Jake Rosenbalm, who had 12 points.
“Jake had a really nice game,’’ Buffum said of his 6-5 senior forward. “He hit some tough shots down the stretch.’’
Buffum also credited junior guard Hayden Huddleston with hitting a pair of key 3-pointers in the first half. Huddleston finished with six points.
Woodland made just one of its 16 3-point attempts the loss at Washougal and then on Jan. 12 the Beavers were 1-for-18 on 3-pointers in a 40-36 loss at R.A. Long. Buffum said 10 of the 16 attempts at Washougal and 12 of the 18 attempts at R.A. Long were uncontested shots that he would normally count on his players to make a higher percentage of.
The cold shooting has led to a common strategy of Woodland’s opponents to focus their defensive attention to stopping Rosenbalm and Mulder near the basket, which leaves the Beavers’ perimeter players open.
“We have guys who can shoot it so we’re hoping down the stretch we can improve and make enough shots to win some more games,’’ Buffum said.
In the first half of the 2A GSHL season, Woodland has played all four of the league’s top teams on the road. That means, in the second half of the season, the Beavers will play Mark Morris, Hockinson, R.A. Long and Washougal at home.
“We’ve had to go on the road and play all those games,’’ Buffum said. “We lost a heartbreaker at Washougal and another one at R.A. Long. Now we’ve got all those games at home and we’ve got to beat the teams we’ve already beaten and then get a couple more wins against the others.’’
Four teams in the 2A league will advance to the playoffs. Mark Morris is currently atop the league standings with a 6-0 mark. Hockinson and Washougal are both 4-2. Woodland is alone in fourth at 3-3 and Ridgefield and R.A. Long are a game behind the Beavers at 2-4. Hudson’s Bay is 0-6 in league play.
In the loss at R.A. Long, Woodland sophomore forward Tanner Sixberry scored 16 points and Rosenbalm had 12 points and nine rebounds.
