Photo Gallery - Miracle sends Fishermen to State

Photos by Damian Mulinix/Chinook Observer

Photo Gallery - IHS boys big win keeps hopes high

Photos by Damian Mulinix/Chinook Observer

Photo Gallery - IHS boys win big on senior night

Photos by Damian Mulinix/Chinook Observer

Photo Gallery - Ilwaco boys vs. Stevenson

Photos by Damian Mulinix/Chinook Observer

Photo Gallery - Bear River Battle hoops doubleheader

Photos by Damian Mulinix/Chinook Observer

IHS winter sports athletes honored at annual banquet

ILWACO - The Ilwaco High School winter sports awards banquet was Tuesday and the following players won boys' basketball awards: Justin Short was most improved, Karl Oman was Mr. Basketball and Jack Whealdon received MVP honors. The girls' basketball awards went to Carley Kitzman for most improved, Kady Kirby as inspirational and Amy Banuet received the coach's award.

Wrestling award winners were Dylan Short, most improved, Terry Elliott most inspirational, Ikaika Thomas the captain's award and Rudy Alvarez was on the all-conference first team. Cheerleading awards went to Alexis Ferguson most spirited, Katie McDonnell most improved, Kelsey Madsen most dedicated and Liz Bonney for inspirational and best all around.

Ilwaco Fishermen eliminated from state tourney

YAKIMA — The Ilwaco Fishermen boys basketball team was eliminated from the state 1A tournament Thursday morning by losing their second game in two days. The Fishermen were knocked off by Columbia Burbank, 39-56, ending their season.

Read the full story HERE

Fishermen fall to top-ranked team in state tourney opener

YAKIMA — The Ilwaco Fishermen lost their opening round game of the state 1A basketball tournament Wednesday afternoon, falling 27-54 to top-ranked Vashon Island at the Yakima Sun Dome. The Fishermen now play a consolation round game this morning, 10:30 am against Columbia Burbank (who lost a close game 56-61 to Lake Roosevelt). If the Fishermen win they will play 11 am Friday for a chance to play in the fifth place game 10 am Saturday. If the Fishermen lose the game this morning they will be eliminated from the tournament.

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Photo Gallery - Ilwaco boys advance to state

Photos by Damian Mulinix/Chinook Observer

lwaco boys head to state; defeat Stevenson 56-38

The Ilwaco Fishermen boys basketball team defeated Stevenson 56-38 tonight to gain a spot at state. The Fishermen will play Kalama Friday at 6:30 p.m. at W.F. West for third or fourth place at districts.

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Kirby, Kary keep Fishermen afloat with 51-43 win over Bulldogs

KELSO -Kolby Kirby and Ross Kary picked a perfect night to play the best basketball games of their lives as the seniors combined for 31 points in leading Ilwaco over Montesano 51-43 in a loser-out District IV contest at Kelso Friday. The Bulldogs employed a triangle-and-two defense to pressure Ilwaco's two leading scorers for the season, Jack Whealdon and Karl Oman and their scheme worked to a tee as Whealdon scored a season-low six points and Oman had 12.
The Fishermen will play Stevenson at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25 at W.F. West in Chehalis in a winner-to-state, loser-out contest. Ilwaco and Stevenson split their league games during the season as each team won at home.

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Photo Gallery - Fishermen fight off Bulldogs to stay alive in district tourney

Photos by Damian Mulinix/Chinook Observer

Fishermen take 19-point loss in tourney opener

CHEHALIS - The Ilwaco Fishermen got hit hard in their District IV 1B basketball tournament opener Wednesday as they fell to Onalaska 57-38. Ilwaco nows moves into the consolation bracket where one more loss will eliminate them from the postseason.

The Fishermen will face Montesano, who lost to Castle Rock, at 6:30 p.m. Friday Feb. 20 at Kelso High School. The Fishermen would have to win three straight games over the next week to advance to the state tournament.

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District IV basketball tournament - opening round match-ups

ILWACO/NASELLE — The opening round schedule for District IV 1A and 2B boys and girls basketball is set and all four local teams are involved. The Naselle girls kick things off Monday, Feb. 16 in Centralia at 6:30 p.m. against Toutle Lake.
Wednesday is boys’ night out as the Comets will play the winner of the Valley-Napavine game at 6:30 p.m. in Montesano and the Fishermen will play Onalaska at 6:30 p.m. in Chehalis at W.F. West High School. Thursday the Lady Fishermen hit the hardwoods as they take on Montesano at 6:30 p.m. in Longview at Mark Morris High School.
The basic format for the 1A tournament is win twice before losing twice and your team will be going to state in Yakima’s Sun Dome. In the 2B tournament a team could have to win three times before losing twice to make it to state in the Spokane Coliseum.
To follow the 2B tournaments click HERE
To keep up on the 1A tournaments click HERE

You will also find all the latest results and photos here on the Observer sports blog

Oman & Whealdon see 20-20as Fishernen clinch district seed

ILWACO – Karl Oman scored 18 of his 21 points in the first half and Jack Whealdon poured in all 20 of his in the second half as Ilwaco blasted White Salmon 78-47 in the final Trico League game of the season Friday at Carl Aase Gymnasium. The victory was huge because Kalama and Ilwaco came into the final night of the season tied for third place in the Trico at 5-4. Ilwaco won and Stevenson defeated the Chinooks 56-52, forcing Kalama to host Forks in a loser-out game Monday, Feb 16 to qualify for district, while Ilwaco is in.

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Fishermen survive spirited LaCenter 51-45

LACENTER - "This game was a carbon copy of the first time we played LaCenter. I felt we were in control of the game most of the way against a scrappy ball club," Coach Kip Meinhardt said after his Fishermen defeated LaCenter 51-45 there Tuesday.

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Rockets explode to 66-53 overtime win over Ilwaco

ILWACO - Castle Rock exploded for 17 points in overtime to roar past Ilwaco 66-53 here Friday in a key Trico League contest. The Fishermen had defused the Rockets the final 3:48 of regulation to come from down 49-43 to tie at 49-all with 37 seconds remaining. Karl Oman connected on a pair of free throws after Jack Whealdon had hit on a 10-foot jumper and Ross Kary had dumped in a turnaround shot in the key.

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Photo Gallery - IHS boys force OT, but can't take down high flying Rockets

Photos by Damian Mulinix/Chinook Observer

Whealdon's last tenth-of-a-second shot wins for Ilwaco 53-50

ILWACO - Jack Whealdon rebounded a Kalama miss, dribbled six times, spotted up to the right of the key, faked once, waited for a desperate Chinook defender to clear and then uncorked a perfect three-point shot with one-tenth of a second remaining on the clock in Carl Aase Gymnasium. His swisheroo from beyond the arc broke a 50-50 tie and gave Ilwaco the victory that rocketed the Fishermen into a tie for third place with Kalama in the Trico League at 4-3.

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Fishermen defense muzzles league-leading Bulldogs 55-35

ILWACO - From the opening tip to the final buzzer Ilwaco totally dominated previously unbeaten league leading Stevenson 55-35 in a Trico League game here Friday. The Fishermen jumped to a 14-3 lead during the first period and increased their advantage to 25-12 at intermission. When Ross Kary dumped in two field goals to open the second half Ilwaco went up 29-12 and the route was on.

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