Photo Gallery — IHS girls dominate Castle Rock with defense

Photos by Damian Mulinix/Chinook Observer

Photo Gallery - IHS girls come through late over Knappa

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.

Photo Gallery - Lady Fishermen eliminated

Photos by Damian Mulinix/Chinook Observer

Lady Fishermen eliminated in 70-40 loss

KELSO - Ilwaco went ahead 9-8 midway through the first period on two of Vallori Crowston's 11 points, but then LaCenter went on a 21-2 tear over the next eight minutes and never let up as the Lady Wildcats cruised to a 70-40 district win in Kelso Thursday. The victory assures LaCenter of a berth in next week's state 1A girls' basketball tournament, while Ilwaco's season is ended with a 14-10 record.

Read the full story HERE

Toledo trounces Lady Fishermen 82-47

LONGVIEW - Toledo had a torrid 27-7 third period run that put a District IV semi-final contest out of reach as they rolled to an 82-47 win over Ilwaco Friday at Mark Morris High School. "Now we have to regroup and get ready for LaCenter," Coach Ned Bittner said simply after the lop-sided loss.

The Lady Fishermen will take on the Lady Wildcats in Kelso at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26 with a trip to state the reward for the winner and the loser will be eliminated for the season.

Read the full story HERE

Photo Gallery - Lady Fishermen knocked into consolation bracket

Photos by Damian Mulinix/Chinook Observer

Update -Lady Fishermen blown out in quarerfinal game by Toledo

LONGVIEW - The Ilwaco girls basketball team had no answer for the pressing defense of the Toledo girls Saturday night, falling by over 30 points and sending them into the consolation bracket. The Lady Fishermen will now have to win their next game, Thursday 8 pm at Kelso, against the team that beat them out for the Trico title, LaCenter. If they win they will have a guarteed berth to the state tournament and will play in the third place game on Saturday. If they lose, however, their season is over.

A photo gallery and full story will be added later

Lady Fishermen win opener, play for state berth Saturday

LONGVIEW — Ilwaco girls basketball coach Ned Bittner got the revenge he was looking for Thursday night. The coach told KJOX FM earlier this week that he was looking for some payback against the Montesano girls team which eliminated his Lady Fishermen two years ago, and Thursday night in Longview he got his wish. The Lady Fishermen won a close district tournament opener 47-45 over Montesano.
The Lady Fishermen will now play Toledo for a guaranteed state berth, this Saturday night at 8 pm at either Mark Morris High (the site of Thursdays game) or Rochester High (depending on how the other teams fare).
If the Lady Fishermen win Saturday they will play for the District title on Saturday Feb. 28, 8 pm at Kelso High School. If they lose Saturdays game they will play Thursday Feb. 26 at 8 pm at Kelso for the right to play in the third place game.

Read the full story HERE

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

Kitzman has "monster game" as Lady Fishermen clinch no. 2 seed

ILWACO – Freshman Carley Kitzman made the difficult switch from reserve post to starting point guard Friday at home and Coach Ned Bittner said she had “a monster game” in the process. She led the Lady Fishermen over White Salmon 42-39 in the final Trico League game of 2009 and with the win Ilwaco clinched second place in the league and assured them a date with Montesano Thursday, Feb. 19 at Mark Morris at 6:30 p.m. in the district tournament.

Read the whole story HERE

Lady Wildcats fly by flu-riddled Ilwaco 55-33

ILWACO - A mini-epidemic of the flu and bronchitis decimated Ilwaco's starting lineup Tuesday as LaCenter flew past the Lady Fishermen 55-33 in a game that broke a first-place tie for the Trico League. The Lady Wildcats are on top at 8-1 and Ilwaco drops to 7-2 and now is tied with Castle Rock for second with one round of games to go.

Read the whole story HERE

Photo Gallery - Shorthanded Lady Fishermen handed blowout loss by Wildcats

Photos by Damian Mulinix/Chinook Observer

Lady Rockets lay first league loss on Ilwaco 50-27

CASTLE ROCK - The Lady Rockets seniors were honored before their home fans Thursday and then they blasted off to a 19-2 first-period lead over the previously undefeated in league Lady Fishermen and then cruised to a 50-27 victory.

Coach Ned Bittner lamented, "This is not how you would expect a team who was 7-0 in the league to play and give them credit. Castle Rock played to their full potential. We weren't making shots, and made too many forced and unforced turnovers. You can't play like that at this level and expect to win. We just didn't get it done."

Read the whole story HERE

Lady Fishermen catch Lady Chinooks 57-48, move to 7-0 in Trico

KALAMA - If, as Forest Gump so aptly states, "Life is like a box of chocolates, you just never know what you will get," then the Ilwaco Lady Fishermen basketball team is the same-you just never know who will lead you to victory. The nice thing in Trico League play thus far this season is that someone will lead you and Tuesday at Kalama it was Ashley Tapio and Vallori Crowston who helped Ilwaco catch the Lady Chinooks 57-48.

Read the whole story HERE

Photo Gallery - Lady Fishermen easily fly past Stevenson, stay perfect in league

Photos by Damian Mulinix/Chinook Observer

Ilwaco unleashes 65-24 torrent on Lady Bulldogs

ILWACO - The Lady Fishermen unleashed a 39-9 second-half tidal wave of points and ran away from Stevenson 65-24 in a Trico League game at Carl Aase Gymnasium Friday. Ilwaco led 26-15 at the half and then to open the third period scored the next 13 consecutive points to bury the Lady Bulldogs 39-15 and the game never got any closer.

Read the whole story HERE

Lady Fishermen rally falls one point shy of Astoria 48-47

ILWACO - The Lady Fishermen, as they have done all season, made a furious fourth period charge, but came up one point short as Astoria won a 48-47 non-league basketball game at Carl Aase Gymnasium Wednesday. Ilwaco trailed 47-38 with 2:36 remaining in the contest when they scored nine of the final ten points. Unfortunately that one Astoria free throw was enough to offset Ilwaco's rally and hand the Lady Fishermen a 48-47 defeat.

Read the whole story HERE

Crowston's buzzer beater biffs Lady Bruins 42-40

WHITE SALMON - Vallori Crowston's 12-foot jump shot in the lane went in with three seconds to go giving Ilwaco a come-from-behind 42-40 Trico League victory in White Salmon Monday. Crowston had missed her last 11 shots, but the feisty sophomore point guard went right at the Lady Bruins 6-foot-1 center Lacey Kruse and shot the winning basket over her to keep Ilwaco undefeated in league play at 5-0.

Read the whole story HERE