Tigers lose heartbreaker following win

The Clatskanie girls varsity basketball team had yet another win/loss split last week, beating Portland Christian 56-41 on Wednesday, Jan. 28, and falling to Vernonia 50-46 in overtime on Saturday, Jan. 31. Last Wednesday, the Tigers jumped out to a commanding 34-22 lead by halftime. Clatskanie and Portland Christian were pretty evenly matched in the third quarter, but the Tigers' lead proved insurmountable, resulting in the 56-41 final score. Close-range shots proved to be the backbreaker for the Royals, as Clatskanie more than doubled Portland Christian's points in the paint (42-20). The Tigers also scored 13 points off of the Royals' 12 turnovers, while 12 turnovers for Clatskanie only resulted in four points for Portland Christian. Junior Olivia George led all scorers with 29 points and 11 rebounds for the double-double. Senior Joey Sizemore also had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Sizemore led the team in assists with five, while junior Lacey Willis came up two points shy of a double-double, scoring eight points and snagging 10 rebounds. Willis led the team in steals with two and co-led in blocks, along with George and Sizemore, with all three having one in the win.

The Tigers have lost six games on the season, four of which have been decided by four points or fewer. The most recent loss, which took place Saturday against Vernonia, would require regulation and then some. The Loggers outscored the Tigers in both the first and second quarters, taking a 23-18 lead into halftime. A stalemate over the third quarter had the Tigers entering the final frame trailing by five. Outscoring Vernonia 13-8 in the fourth, Clatskanie forced overtime but, unfortunately was outscored 10-6, resulting in the 50-46 loss. The Tigers outscored the Loggers 22-12 in the paint, but were outscored 17-7 off of turnovers. Eight second-chance points by Vernonia, compared with six by Clatskanie, were offset by two transition points by Clatskanie and zero for Portland Christian. Sizemore led the Tigers in scoring with 22 points and came within one rebound of a double-double. Sizemore also led the team in assists with five. George came in second on the team in scoring with 14 points but led the team in steals with four. Senior Bethany Hagen led the team in blocks with one and managed two steals in the overtime loss.

Clatskanie (12-6) traveled to Nestucca on Tuesday, Feb. 3, but the results of the game were not available at the time of press. The Tigers return home Friday, Feb. 6, at 6 p.m. to take on Faith Bible Christian, before going back on the road Tuesday, Feb. 10 to face Gaston. The girls' last two games of the regular season are at home Wednesday, Feb. 11, against Banks and Friday, Feb. 13, against Knappa. Both games begin at 6 p.m.