WOODLAND JUNIOR Bryce Mulder (0) blocks the shot of Washougal’s Josh Bischoff during Friday’s game at Woodland High School. The 6-foot-11 Mulder is averaging five blocked shots a game this season to lead a stingy Beavers’ defense.
WOODLAND GUARD Hayden Huddleston (3) is leading the Beavers with an average of 17 points a game this season. Huddleston is shown here attempting a shot during Woodland’s 52-49 overtime loss to Washougal.
TANNER SIXBERRY (22) rises for a layup in Woodland’s game with Washougal Friday at Woodland High School. Sixberry led the Beavers with 21 points in the overtime loss to the Panthers.
WOODLAND – Woodland battled Washougal even for four quarters Friday night in a Class 2A Greater St. Helens League (GSHL) boys basketball matchup between the two teams but the Beavers let one slip away in overtime.
“It went down to the wire and we did everything we could to give it away,’’ said Woodland coach Jason Buffum, whose team fell to 7-4 overall and 2-1 in GSHL action with a 52-49 overtime loss to Washougal Friday at Woodland High School.
The Beavers led in the final minute of the game both in regulation play and in overtime. But a combination of missed free throws and turnovers contributed to Woodland’s downfall.
In overtime, the Beavers missed two free throws in the front end of one-and-one situations in the final minute and then turned the ball over with four seconds left in the period, leading to a buzzer-beating, game-winning 3-pointer by Washougal’s Daniel Davis.
The loss left Woodland in a tie with Washougal for second place in the 2A GSHL. Mark Morris leads the league standings with a 3-1 record. The Beavers jumped on top of the league standings with two road wins in December, a 57-56 win at Ridgefield and a 59-46 win at Mark Morris.
“We started off the season a little slow and then we got going once we started league play,’’ said Buffum, whose team opened the season with a win over Kalama and then back-to-back losses to La Center. “We shot the ball really well early in the season and now we’re trying to get back to our stride.’’
Buffum said his team’s primary focus is on its defense and the results have been plentiful on the court. Through its first 11 games, Woodland is allowing its opponents to average just 44 points per game,
“We pride ourselves on the defensive end and we spend a lot of time in practice working on fundamental defensive concepts,’’ Buffum said. “We are committed to stopping people.’’
The Beavers gave up just 26 points in a loss to Black Hills and just 31 points in a win over Kalama. Woodland has given up more than 50 points in just two of its 11 games this season and a big reason why is the play of 6-foot-11 junior center Bryce Mulder.
“It helps to have a 6-11 guy who changes the game in the middle,’’ Buffum said. “Even when he doesn’t block shots, he changes so many shots. Our guards are really able to work on pressuring people because they know if they get beat they have somebody who has their back.’’
Mulder is one of just three players returning from last year’s Woodland team that finished 18-7, finished second in the GSHL and just missed advancing to the final 16 of the state tournament with a close loss to Centralia. Mulder is averaging 12.5 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots a game. He had 12 points in the loss to the Panthers Friday.
“He allows our guys to force people into shots they normally wouldn’t take,’’ Buffum said of Mulder. “He comes over and puts his arms out and all of a sudden it’s like there’s two more defenders on the guy with the ball.’’
Senior Hayden Huddleston returned to the Beavers’ lineup this year and the senior guard is leading the way this season with an average of 17 points per game. Huddleston had 13 points in the loss to Washougal.
“Hayden is having a really nice year for us,’’ Buffum said. “He has really improved defensively.’’
Junior Tanner Sixberry, a 6-4 junior, is the other returning player for the Beavers. Sixberry, who had a game-high 21 points against Washougal, is averaging about 14 points per game this season.
Senior guard McKay Flanagan and sophomore guard Wyatt Harsh join the returning three in the Beavers’ starting lineup. Freshman Tyler Flanagan, a 5-11 guard, leads a solid group of reserves that Buffum uses on a regular basis.
“He’s got a lot of good physical tools,’’ Buffum said of the young Flanagan. “He’s still a freshman so it’s a learning process. Defensively, he’s above average for a freshman and his offense is starting to come around.’’
Those other Woodland role players are junior guard Devin Rice, sophomore forward Palmer Dinehart and senior forward Christian Mendez.
Buffum definitely sees his team as possessing the potential to make a return to the postseason.
“We would like to give ourselves a chance to make the postseason and once you get there it’s a whole new beginning so hopefully we can make a run from there,’’ Buffum said. “Hopefully we can bounce back from Friday night.’’
