A District playoff win tonight at Chehalis clinched a State tournament appearance for the North Beach High girls basketball team. Sebastian Makinson, Yearbook Editor, reports: “The girls won their game tonight against Toutle Lake 43-40. They were behind until the last 3 minutes of the game and made a miraculous recovery and won the game by 3.”

The North Beach High boys basketball team went up against South Bend last night, a team they crushed by 30 points in a home win last month . . . but lost to by a dozen points in a road loss just a few weeks ago. 

Last night’s pressure-packed playoff game turned out to be a thriller, with the Hyaks escaping with a 54-53 win. A loss would have ended the season. With the win, the boys play Napavine or Toutle Lake on Thursday night (6:30) at Chehalis. A win means a spot in the State tournament for the 17-6 Hyaks.

The North Beach girls team, 13-9 after two big playoff wins, play against Toutle Lake tonight (6:30) at Chehalis. A win means a spot in the State tournament, and a district championship game on Saturday night. If they lose, they have to earn the State spot with a win on Thursday night (6:30) at Centralia.

Jamaal Lind came through with 17 points, Rusell Alfaro had 15 and Tres Pope and Derek Moore added 11 each as the North Beach High boys defeated Willapa Valley, 66-50. The 2B tournament game was held last night at Chehalia. A loss would have ended the season; instead, the Hyaks move on to play South Bend Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., at Centralia. Larry Moore’s team is now 16-6.

Highest ever finish for North Beach High.

Mike McGregor, photo:

Great work, Nick Poplin (Third in State at 285 pounds) and Will Hara (Second at 135 pounds).

His nemesis Dalton Collins took care of business, pinning Will Hara at 1:38. Still, a terrific season for the North Beach High senior, closing out his career with a second place finish in the State.

click here for KBCsports.com live coverage of the wrestling finals, starting at 5 p.m.

Will Hara has lost six straight times to Dalton Collins. He takes on the Raymond wrestler a sixth time, at 6:55 tonight, for the State championship.

This is the guy who missed all last season, after a back injury ended his promising football career.

This is the guy who almost gave up wrestling in December, after the weather wiped out multiple matches (his mother, a former athlete, told him he wasn’t allowed to quit).

This is the guy who ignores the pain, and pushes ahead.

Prediction: 6-5, final score.

Jennifer Law lost her shot her match this morning, and a shot at the State title. She can still finish third at 152 pounds, and has a match at 12:28 p.m.

North Beach High wrestlers charged ahead with a fantastic day of wrestling at the State tournament at the Tacoma Dome. All five who qualified are still alive, and two continue title hopes.

Will Hara had a big, 9-1 win to land in the finals. He faces his long-time nemesis, Dalton Collins, tomorrow night at 6:55.

Jennifer Law had a second round pin. The sophomore continues her quest for the State title at 11:10 a.m. tomorrow. If she wins, she is in the 7:35 p.m. finals.

Heavyweight Nick Poplin was pinned by the destructive force known as Kyle Strode; Poplin battles for third place, with a match tomorrow at 1:14 p.m.

Anthony Tignino won a consolation match with a pin this afternoon, and is still in the running for third place at 112 pounds. He has a match tomorrow at 11:38 a.m.

Andy Smith also scored a consolation pin to stay alive. His next match is tomorrow at 12:02 p.m.

schedules and results