WOODLAND SENIOR Hayden Huddleston (3) goes up for two of his 14 points during Thursday’s win over Washougal in a Class 2A district tournament game at Hudson’s Bay High School.
WOODLAND JUNIOR CENTER Bryce Mulder (0) goes up for a basket between Washougal defenders Joshua Bischoff (35) and Curtis Crosby (22) during Thursday’s district tournament game at Hudson’s Bay High School. Mulder had 16 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Beavers to a 49-41 win over the Panthers.
The Woodland Beavers survived not one but two loser-out games in the final week of the Class 2A district boys basketball tournament to advance to a regional matchup Friday against North Kitsap at Mt. Tahoma High School in Tacoma.
Woodland, 16-8 on the season, and North Kitsap (21-4) will square off in an 8 p.m. game that will determine one of the eight berths into the 2A boys state tournament.
“They are a very good, disciplined team,’’ said Woodland coach Jason Buffum of his team’s next opponent. “They like to score a lot of points and they are pretty solid defensively.’’
Buffum and his team have been one of the stingiest teams at the 2A level over the past two seasons. The Beavers allowed the fewest points per game at the 2A level last season and were second this season, giving up just 46 points per game.
That stellar defense was on display Saturday as Woodland advanced to the regional round of the postseason with a 56-43 win over Centralia in a game played at Mark Morris High School. Senior guard Hayden Huddleston led the Beavers with 17 points and junior Tanner Sixberry added 13 points and 11 rebounds. Junior center Bryce Mulder added 11 points.
“The last couple of games, we’ve had a more balanced attack,’’ Buffum said of his team’s offensive output.
Huddleston, Sixberry and Mulder each had double-figure scoring averages during the regular season but Buffum has been happy with the recent play of freshman Tyler Flanagan, senior McKay Flanagan, sophomore Wyatt Harsh and senior Christian Mendez, each of whom have also contributed in recent games.
McKay Flanagan had eight points in the win over Centralia and Tyler Flanagan added seven.
Prior to the matchup with Centralia, Woodland survived a loser-out matchup with Greater St. Helens League-rival Washougal Thursday at Hudson’s Bay High School. The teams had split their two regular season battles and the Beavers made it two-out-of-three with a 49-41 win in the district tournament.
“We split with them during the season,’’ Buffum said. “We lost to them in overtime at our place and then we went there and won late in the year. We play similar styles, two defensive teams.’’
Woodland used a 10-0 run early in the fourth quarter to take control of the game. Mulder, the Beavers’ 6-foot-11 center, had 16 points, 17 rebounds and four blocked shots to lead Woodland. Huddleston added 14 points and Sixberry and Tyler Flanagan each had six points.
