Vashon sinks Charles Wright and Chimacum

January 18, 2011 1:57 pm
Hamzah Griffin goes up for a shot in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s game against Charles Wright Academy. Adrian Arceo (25) looks on. The Pirates beat the Tarriers
Hamzah Griffin goes up for a shot in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s game against Charles Wright Academy. Adrian Arceo (25) looks on. The Pirates beat the Tarriers

By GLENNA MILESON

and STEVE EDELE

For The Beachcomber

The Vashon High School boys basketball team collected a pair of wins last week and moved up to third place in the Nisqually League with a record of 4-2 (8-5 overall).

On Tuesday, Jan. 11, the Pirates took down the Charles Wright Academy Tarriers, 52-41, and came back the following Friday to outpace the Chimacum Cowboys, 58-44.

Hamzah Griffin started off the game against the Tarriers by proving his value on both ends of the court with a blocked shot on the defensive end followed by a rebound and put back on the offensive side for two of his 15 game points.

But the Pirates struggled to find their pace and rhythm in a game where Adrian Arceo, Alex Wegner and Griffin, three of the five starters, were sitting on the bench carrying two fouls each by early in the second quarter.

The open, cavernous space of the dome at Charles Wright seemed to affect the team’s outside shooting, but they stayed focused and continued to run their offense. Kyle Bakker hit Wegner for an easy lay-up and Wegner hit Griffin for another. Vashon kept the game close, ending the first quarter in a 10-10 tie, and trailing by two, 23-25, at halftime.

While a snowstorm gathered outside the dome, the Pirates stormed back onto the court with more energy and hustle for the second half. Jesse Hazzard set the tone by dropping in a three-pointer on the first possession. Tyler Stoffer followed it up in the next possession by driving in for two points.

The Pirates kept up the defensive pressure to force several Tarrier turnovers. One play saw a Tarrier come up with a rebound only to be relentlessly dogged by Arceo until both players were on the floor. Arceo flipped the loose ball to Hazzard for a lay-in.

The Pirates held a 37-31 lead by the end of the third and went on to win by 11. Scoring for the Pirates were Wegner (17), Griffin (15), Hazzard (9), Tyler Stoffer (5), Bakker (4) and Arceo (2).

The Pirates roped the Chimacum Cowboys throughout most of Friday’s game, surging to a 16-6 first quarter lead and ending the half with a 13-point advantage, 33-20. The teams played evenly through the third period with the Pirates holding a 43-32 lead.

Then things got interesting.

With a little over three minutes left in the game, the Pirates were ahead by 13 points, 47-34. However, in the span of about one minute and 15 seconds the Cowboys scored 10 unanswered points to pull within three. Vashon, clearly not wanting this one to slip away, woke up and held the Cowboys scoreless through the final minute and a half while adding another 11 points, mostly on the strength of a basket and 5 hits from the foul line by Wegner.

Wegner led the scoring against Chimacum with 31 points. Also contributing were Griffin (7), Ben Whitacker (6), Arceo (4), Lofland (4), Hazard (4) and Jeff Rauma (2).

— Glenna Mileson and Steve Edele are both parents of Pirate

basketball players.