Despite a win against Tenino, the Elma Eagles couldn’t maintain momentum into a home game against Aberdeen’s boys.
Elma defeated Tenino 49-35 on Jan. 13, but fell to Aberdeen 51-45 on Jan. 16.
Aberdeen 51, Elma 45
The interest banked during the opening 18 minutes came in handy for Aberdeen’s boys at the end.
Building a 17-point lead early in the second half, the Bobcats withstood an Elma comeback for a 51-45 win in a non-league boys basketball game Monday at Elma.
Cody Vollan led a trio of double-figure scorers for Elma with 12 points. Brothers Avery and A.J. Brown added 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Eagles (3-11).
The Bobcats had the advantage in nearly all departments during a first half that ended with them on top, 33-19. Their ball movement was particularly outstanding, as they repeatedly found the cutter for layins. Gomez and point guard Ben Dublanko, meanwhile, each hit a pair of 3-point baskets in the half.
After shooting close to 50 percent until then, Aberdeen cooled off drastically in the final 12 minutes. Failing to convert even close-range attempts, the Cats went the final six minutes without a field goal.
Elma, meanwhile, began attacking the basket effectively. Hitting primarily from short and middle distance, the Eagles shot 57 percent from the floor in the second half and 50 percent for the game.
The slower tempo suited Elma.
“We just executed more,” Eagle coach Marvin Prince asserted. “We were a little more deliberate, a little more patient. I was pleased. If we play like that, we can win some games in (our) league.”
The Eagles didn’t reduce the margin to single digits until early in the fourth quarter. But they twice drew within five in the final 2 1/2 minutes, the last time at 50-45 when Avery Brown drove for a layin with 1:23 on the clock.
Elma twice had an opportunity to make it a one-possession game. Gomez, however, came up with a steal and the Eagles were called for traveling in the final minute. Gomez’s free throw closed out the scoring.
Outscored from two-point range, the Bobcats owed their victory to significant advantages in 3-point shooting (12 points to 3 by Aberdeen) and foul shooting. The Cats made 13 of 20 free throws, while the Eagles were only 6 of 10 from the stripe.
Avery Brown had 10 of his 11 points in the second half for Elma.
The Eagles journey to Forks on Friday.
Elma 49, Tenino 35
Three players scored in double figures as Elma downed Tenino in an Evergreen 1A League game Friday at Elma.
Brown scored a team-high 15 points for the Eagles (1-3, 3-10), while Vollan attained a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds.
Marquez Peterson competed the trio of double-digit scorers with 10 points in only 10 minutes.
The Eagles led 24-14 at the half.
Aberdeen 19 14 10 8 — 51 Elma 9 10 12 14 — 45
Aberdeen (51) — Roiko, Dublanko 8, Collett 9, Gomez 23, Castleberry-Taylor 11, Coburn, Solan, Sayres, Hughes, Troy, Jandu, Metke. FG — 17-50 (.340). FT — 13-20.
Elma (45) — A.J. Brown 10, Tep 6, Thompson 4, Vollan 12, Avery Brown 11, Peterson 2, Spalding, Horton. FG — 19-38 (.500). FT — 6-10.
Tenino 8 6 14 7 — 35 Elma 10 14 14 11 — 49
Tenino (35) — Canepa 12, Dowies 10, Brewer 5, Wall 3, Burnam 2, Deosky 2, Villa 1, Bratton, Griffis, Stakein, Wright. FG — n/a. FT — 7-16.
Elma (49) — Avery Brown 15, Vollan 14, Peterson 10, A.J. Brown 4, Tep 4, Thompson 2, Horton, Spalding. FG — 21-53 (.396). FT — 7-11.
