The Trinity Wolves boys basketball team began its foray into Shasta Cascade League play last week, and were able to take down rival Fall River before coming up short in a close one at Mount Shasta.
In their first game of the new year the Wolves took on the Bulldogs at home Tuesday, Jan. 10, and it was a back-and-forth affair all the way down to the final minutes. Trinity senior scoring duo of Brian Thompson and Noah Fielding were able to do enough to keep pace with Fall River, while rest of the Pack stepped up and made enough defensive plays to keep the Bulldogs at bay. Players like seniors James Norman (eight points, six rebounds, one block) and Kyle Cox (nine points, four rebounds, six steals and one block) contributed enough depth scoring and clutch plays to give the Wolves possession when they needed it, while Fielding and Thompson cashed in on those opportunities to the tune of 19 and 13 points each. After four quarters had been played, Trinity retained a 68-63 lead to win the game, getting redemption after falling to the Bulldogs in the Block F Tournament championship game early last month.
Trinity then ventured up to Mount Shasta on Friday, Jan. 13, where a close game with the Bears ended a Trinity winning streak that lasted 10 games and exactly one month. Both teams came out strong and put up solid numbers in the first quarter, but a second quarter in which the Wolves only scored four points allowed Mount Shasta to take a 40-21 lead into the halftime break. Fortunately, Trinity would get their feet under them during the respite, and in the third quarter it was the Bears who found themselves in a scoring rut, only accounting for seven points. With the Wolves now back in striking range, down only 47-38 to begin the final quarter the Wolfpack did everything they could to mount a comeback, with 19 fourth quarter points, but it was too little too late. The Bears were able to maintain a slight edge and ultimately emerged victorious, 60-57.
Trinity’s (16-3, 1-1) next two opponents will be on the road Tuesday, Jan. 17, at the 13-4 Weed Cougars, an always challenging foe, before returning home Friday, Jan. 20, to face the Etna Lions, who sit just above .500 with a 8-7 record.
The Lady Wolves posted the same 1-1 record as their male counterparts as they began league play in the SCL, although they swapped which games they won and lost, first dropping a game to Fall River before defeating Mount Shasta to arrive at 1-1.
Scoring has been a struggle for the Wolves so far this season, and it was again against Fall River. In the initial frame the Wolves only mustered seven points, but despite this they put together two stronger quarters of basketball in the second and third quarters. Down by 10 going into the last quarter, Trinity would be snakebitten again, only managing nine points while the Bulldogs added 15 of their own to run away with the game, 53-37.
Fortunately the Wolves had a chance to build some confidence shortly thereafter, beating up on an overmatched Mount Shasta squad. The Wolfpack never allowed the Bears to score double-digit points in any quarter. Conversely, Trinity was able to put up points in this game, torching the Bears by a final score of 47-27.
Trinity now sits at 9-8, 1-1 SCL, as they prepare for a winnable game against a 10-10 Weed squad before a contest against the 6-6 Etna Lions, another game the Wolves should be able to win.
Cody McIntosh and Sara Keating continue to make the most of their senior seasons, winning their second tournament in back-to-back weekends, while the rest of the team around them turned in strong performances at the North Coast Classic in Eureka.
McIntosh won three straight matches to take the crown in the boys 220-pound weight class, while Keating did the same on her side of the bracket. Elsewhere on the roster, senior Auryn Peralta was awarded a second-place medal in the boys 138-pound weight class, after winning his first match with a pin, his second by a 9-2 decision, but then getting pinned in the championship match. Michael Hamann, a senior, won three of his five matches in the 182-pound boys bracket, good enough for a fifth-place finish, while 170 junior Nathan Rupp grappled his way into the fifth-place match, ultimately falling to his opponent and finishing the tournament in sixth place.
The girls team featured even more success. The aforementioned first-place finish from Keating was one of two for the Wolfpack. Sophomore Ellie McIntosh also placed first in her bracket, showing that wrestling apparently runs in the family. Maggie Burge, a junior, put on an admirable performance on Saturday, which resulted in a silver medal for her, while freshman Josie Jacobs earned her place on the podium by finishing third in her weight class.
The Wolves have just one more meet, the Corning Invitational this Saturday, Jan. 21, before the Shasta Cascade League Championship, where McIntosh, Keating and company look to take the league title.
Coach Matthew Jessee has made his first selections for the 46th annual Lions All-Star Game. The Wolfpack backfield of running back Daegon Gorre, fullback Cody McIntosh and wingback Zach Maze will represent Trinity in the game. The productive trio combined for 3,421 yards and 42 touchdowns on offense, while McIntosh and Gorre were among the league’s leaders in tackles, and Maze made his presence felt on special teams as an electric kick returner. All three players received All-League honors for their play last fall, and will get one more chance to take the field together and show why they are three of Northern California’s finest.
The Timberjacks (2-9 overall, 0-3 league) dropped three games last week — 69-51 at Surprise Valley Saturday, Jan. 14; 49-36 vs. Big Valley on Friday, Jan. 13; and 82-41 vs. Ferndale on Tuesday, Jan. 10.
Hayfork was within striking distance after three quarters Saturday at Surprise Valley, trailing 51-44, before the Hornets would outscore the Jacks 18-7 in the final quarter to seal the league victory.
Against Big Valley Friday, Hayfork led 25-24 at halftime before the Cardinals tightened the screws on defense, holding the Jacks to only 11 second-half points in the league win.
Tuesday evening’s non-league game (Jan. 17) at South Fork was canceled due to travel difficulties on Highway 36.
The Lady Jacks (0-8 overall, 0-3 league) also dropped three games last week — 56-17 at Surprise Valley Saturday, Jan. 14; 38-29 vs. Big Valley on Friday, Jan. 13; and 50-10 vs. Ferndale on Tuesday, Jan. 10.
The Lady Jacks hung in at home in a league matchup against Big Valley on Friday, trailing by only three mid-way through the fourth quarter before the Cardinals would capitalize on second- and third-chance points to put away the game, winning by nine.
Against visiting Ferndale on Tuesday, Jan. 10, Hayfork fell behind 18-0 after the first quarter and trailed 29-4 at halftime before falling 50-10 in a non-league matchup.
Tuesday evening’s game (Jan. 17) at South Fork was canceled due to travel difficulties on Highway 36.
High school sports schedule
Jan. 19: Hayfork basketball at Tulelake*, 5 p.m. girls, 6:30 p.m. boys
Jan. 20: Trinity girls basketball vs. Etna*, JV/V, 4 p.m.
Jan. 20: Trinity boys basketball vs. Etna*, JV/V, 4 p.m.
Jan. 21: Trinity wrestling at Corning Invitational, JV/V, TBA
Jan. 24: Hayfork basketball at Happy Camp*, 5 p.m. girls, 6:30 p.m. boys
Jan. 24: Trinity girls basketball vs. St Bernards, JV/V, 3 p.m.
Jan. 24: Trinity boys basketball vs. St Bernards, JV/V, 3 p .m.
Jan. 27: Hayfork basketball vs. Dunsmuir*, 5 p.m. girls, 6:30 p.m. boys
Jan. 27: Trinity girls basketball at Modoc*, JV/V, 4 p.m.
Jan. 27: Trinity boys basketball at Modoc*, JV/V, 4 p.m.
Jan. 28: Hayfork basketball vs. Butte Valley*, 4 p.m. girls, 5:30 p.m. boys
Jan. 28-29: Trinity wrestling at SCL league championships, Fall River, V, TBA
Jan. 31: Hayfork basketball vs. Tulelake*, 5 p.m. girls, 6:30 p.m. boys
Jan. 31: Trinity girls basketball at Fall River*, JV/V, 4 p.m.
Jan. 31: Trinity boys basketball at Fall River, JV/V, 4 p.m.
Feb. 2: Hayfork basketball at Big Valley*, Bieber, 5 p.m. girls, 6:30 p.m. boys
Feb. 3: Trinity girls basketball vs. Mt Shasta*, JV/V, 4 p.m.
Feb. 3: Trinity boys basketball vs. Mt Shasta*, JV/V, 4 p.m.
Feb. 4: Trinity girls basketball vs. Modoc*, JV/V, 2 p.m.
Feb. 4: Trinity boys basketball vs. Modoc*, JV/V, 2 p.m.
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