Hockinson girls stun Washougal

Fourteen unanswered points to end the first half helped Hockinson turn the tables on the Washougal High School girls basketball team Monday. By the end of the third quarter, the Hawks had the Panthers down by 11. Hockinson soared to a 53-42 victory at Washougal. "They started knocking everything down, and we couldn't keep up," said Washougal head coach Brian Oberg. "When it comes to Hockinson and Mark Morris, it's all mental. You can have the players and the experience, but if you don't bring it mentally, you are going to continue to have failures like this." RaeAnn Allen and Beyonce Bea both scored 15 points for the Panthers. Alyssa Blankenship added nine, Alissa Lenczowski had two and Maggie Hungerford netted a foul shot for one. Washougal built a 20-11 advantage in the second quarter, before Hockinson caught fire. The Hawks made back-to-back 3-pointers, two more field goals and three foul shots to go up 25-20 at halftime. Allen scored the first eight points for Washougal in the third quarter, before she was forced to the bench by a sprained ankle. "That was a physical game," Allen said. "You got to keep playing your game. That's what we tried to do, keep playing like we know how." Hockinson took advantage with 3-pointers, steals, fast breaks, lay ups, rebounds and put backs to go up 39-28. The Panthers trimmed the deficit down to six points in the fourth quarter, before the Hawks went back up by 11. Thirty-three free throws were attempted in the fourth quarter, and both teams made 10. "You either make your run at that point, or you don't," Oberg said. "Unfortunately, our run didn't come. We just didn't have it tonight." The loss dropped Washougal (14-4, 8-2) into second place in league. The Panthers host Mark Morris (10-5, 9-1) Thursday. Tip off is at 7 p.m. "We just have to come out and try to get over that mental block," Oberg said. "Put the pressure on someone other than ourselves." A win would still give Washougal an opportunity to tie for first place in league. "It's Senior Night," Allen said. "It's time to play together, play hard and play smart. Just leave it all out on the floor." Washougal gained a 56-50 win at Woodland Thursday. The Beavers were up 39-38 going into the fourth quarter. The Panthers secured the victory after an 18-11 swing during those final eight minutes. Washougal took a 46-44 lead in the last three minutes. Bea made back-to-back baskets to put the Panthers up by six. After Woodland cut the deficit to three, Blankenship drew a foul on a shot that went in and swished it for a 3-point play. Blankenship then grabbed a defensive rebound, was fouled again and drained two more shots to extend Washougal's lead to eight points. Woodland hit one more shot before the final buzzer sounded. Bea led Washougal with 20 points, Blankenship added 17, Allen netted 10, Lindsey Thomas had seven and Hungerford earned two.

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