Seaside 55, Valley Catholic 49: Five Takeaways
You could say that Seaside and Valley Catholic know each another quite well. After all, the two squads are not only Cowapa League foes but have also faced each other in the 4A state finals the past two years. So…
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Continue ReadingYou could say that Seaside and Valley Catholic know each another quite well. After all, the two squads are not only Cowapa League foes but have also faced each other in the 4A state finals the past two years. So Friday night may have been their first meeting of this season, but the game had a familiar feel to it as Seaside fought off a hard-charging Valley Catholic team in the second half to come away with a hard-fought 55-49 victory.
“Even though we struggled at times with all five guys on the court, we were still able to come out with a win on the road,” said Seaside head coach Bill Westerholm. “Anytime you can do that in the Cowapa League it’s a good night.”
Initially it appeared that Seaside would cruise to a win as they led by nine at the half. But Valley Catholic came out with fire in the third quarter, going on a 12-0 run to easily erase that lead and at one point, the Valiants led the Seagulls by five. But Seaside stayed strong, with guard Ryan Hague finding open spots in the zone for buckets, and the Seagulls held Valley Catholic at bay on the defense end to secure the win.
Hague led the way for Seaside with 14 points while senior guard Chase Januik and junior guard Brayden Johnson added 12 points each. Senior guard Payton Westerholm scored ten points and grabbed seven rebounds. Senior guard Jack Tetzloff led three Valley Catholic in double figures with 14 points. Junior forward Daniel Pruitt scored 12 points and grabbed 16 rebounds while junior Trey Eberhart added ten.
Seaside Guards Lead the Way
It’s no mystery that Seaside’s success is built on its guard play. But when you have at least three players who can play any one of the backcourt spots and can easily switch roles at any time, it’s truly an advantage for the Seagulls – and even better when they are seniors. Both Chase Januik and Payton Westerholm can switch off at the point and seamlessly run the offense and also hit the open jump shot. Januik showed that he was more of an aggressive offensive player and create for himself, while Westerholm was more passive, allowing things to come to him.
Hague Hard to Stop in the Second
Junior Ryan Hague didn’t do a whole lot in the first half – he missed both shot attempts from the field. But in the second half, his response was key as he set up shop near the elbow and was able to hit mid-range jumpers or create going to the basket where he often drew contact and fouls. At 6-foot-2, Hague is one of the team’s tallest players and he was a willing rebounder, especially on the defensive glass. We caught up with Hague after the game and will have an update posted soon.
Valley Catholic Has Juniors to Watch
Two juniors played a big part for the Valiants – 6-foot-2 forward Daniel Pruitt and 5-foot-9 Trey Eberhart. Both are members of the football team with Pruitt the quarterback and Eberhart the running back, and their physical prowess was on display during the game. Pruitt was dominant on the boards (grabbing 16) and used his strength and size advantage often. Eberhart – who has a very strong build – also used his quickness to get to the bucket effectively and finish around the basket. If a couple more threes would have dropped for Eberhart – he ended up shooting 1-for-8 from distance – the result might have been a little different.
Valiant Effort from the Valiants
Valley Catholic was playing shorthanded with two key players out. Senior guard Davis Johnson has been out for awhile due to a sprained ankle, but the Valiants were also missing starting big man Isaac Flemmer. The 6-foot-7 senior post is an Eastern Washington football commitment and he was taking his official visit to campus this weekend. Despite their absenses, Valley Catholic fought hard and almost came away with a win.
Can Anyone Stop Seaside?
The wins may not be necessarily pretty but the Seagulls have been getting it done on the court. Seaside has proven itself by beating teams at the 4A, 5A (Thurston), and 6A (Bend, South Eugene) levels and do it despite the fact none of their starters is over 6-foot-3. The Seagulls are well aware of who their competition is and according to senior guard Chase Januik, will need to shore things up before they next face Banks, which occurs on Tuesday, January 29, in what should be an epic battle between the two top 4A programs.