Men’s basketball
Saint Martin’s 89, Evergreen 69 – Recaps: SMU, Evergreen

Thoughts on the Saints easy win over the Geoducks…

• Saint Martin’s never trailed. In fact, there was never even a tie in this game. Evergreen made a mistake with their lineup and were assessed a technical foul and Evan Coulter gave the Saints a 2-0 lead before the game even tipped off.
• Coulter scored a career high 27 points in 28 minutes on 8-12 shooting and nine free throws for the Saints. He was outstanding.
• Riley Carel was aggressive and confident in his home debut. The Seattle Pacific transfer scored 14 points and pulled down six rebounds. Two other newcomers, freshman Tyler Copp and Lower Columbia transfer Ryan Rogers each scored 12 points in their debuts at Marcus Pavilion.
• Four Geoducks scored in double digits with Kyle Calhoun and Frankie Johnson leading the way with 16 points each.
• Evergreen will live and die by the three ball this season. They hoisted 25 of them tonight, sinking ten. Johnson went 4-for-4 from downtown but Calhoun missed seven shots, almost all of them coming from NBA three point distance.
• The Saints pulled down 21 more boards than the Geoducks, 56-35.
• Both teams were picked to finish last in their conferences but they will both be interesting teams to follow. I think the Saints will be better than advertised and Evergreen will get hot and pull off a couple of major upsets.
• Saint Martin’s doesn’t return to action at home until December 18th. They play just three home games before the first of the year.

Women’s basketball
Saint Martin’s 70, Evergreen 63 – Recaps: SMU, Evergreen

Thoughts on the Saints and Geoducks exhibition game…

• This was a hard fought game with 47 personal fouls called on the two teams total.
• Evergreen shot just three three pointers and didn’t make any of them. Despite a guard heavy lineup, most of their points came in the paint.
• Brittany Gray, a one time Gonzaga commit who transferred to Evergreen from Skagit Valley, scored 21 points. She will be a force come CCC play. She will definitely fill the hole left by Danielle Swain’s departure.
• Chelsea Haskey led the Saints in scoring for the third time in exhibition play. 19 points against Oregon State, 22 against both UPS and Evergreen. She is so controlled and clinical.
• Sammi Clark played all 40 minutes in an exhibition game and just six Evergreen players played double digit minutes in a game that didn’t count. The Geoducks achilles heal will most likely be depth.
• On the other hand, the Saints have a deep bench and Tim Healy’s job will be to find the right lineup night to night. Haskey will lead most nights, but it could be anybody who will come through and compliment her. Will all depend on who is hot.

Girls soccer
2A District IV semifinals (winner to state)
Black Hills 4, Hockinson 3

The Wolves opened up a 4-0 lead over Hockinson but had to hold on tight to advance to the District IV championship game on and earned a spot in the 2A state tournament. The Wolves will travel to Ridgefield on Thursday to take on the Spudders at 7:00 PM.

2A District IV consolation (loser-out)
Capital 4, WF West 0
Tumwater 4, Aberdeen 0

Both Tumwater and Capital survived and will take on Hockinson and Mark Morris respectively in loser out games.

High school volleyball
2B District IV playoffs
Wahkiakum 3, Northwest Christian 0 (25-18 25-12 25-20)

Wahkiakum knocked off Ocosta in the first game at Northwest Christian High School and then swept the Navigators into the consolation bracket. They will take on North Beach at South Bend High School on Thursday at 6:30 in a loser out game.

Evergreen’s Frankie Johnson in 2012 Saints/Geoducks game

Men’s basketball
Evergreen @ Saint Martin’s – Marcus Pavilion – 7:30 PM

The one time Capital Cup takes place tonight when Evergreen and Saint Martin’s renew their rivalry with a doubleheader beginning at 5:15 PM at Marcus Pavilion.

The women tip-off first in the third exhibition game for the Saints and the season opener for the Geoducks. Saint Martin’s won last year’s contest 47-37 and have never lost to Evergreen in sixteen seasons.

The Saints are picked to finish eighth in the ten team NCAA Division II GNAC while the Geoducks are picked to finish ninth out of ten teams in the NAIA Cascade Conference. The Saints are a strong defensive team that often struggles to score and are led by senior Chelsea Haskey, who scored 22 points and hauled in seven boards last night against UPS. Evergreen has to replace their leading scorer, Danielle Swain, and will rely on senior guards Sammi Clark and Jessica Denmon to get things done this season.

The men will follow the women at 7:30 in a game that could finally even up the all-time series between the Saints and Geoducks. Evergreen is currently 9-8 against Saint Martin’s but have lost three straight games including a 66-50 decision last season at the CRC Gymnasium at Evergreen.

Both teams were picked to finish last in their conferences this season but both teams could easily surprise some teams this season. The Geoducks have senior leadership in big man Marc Taylor, shooters Kyle Calhoun and KJ Hong and a nice sophomore guard in Frankie Johnson.

Saint Martin’s, meanwhile, is truly an unknown with big changes coming in the offseason. Keith Cooper wasn’t retained at the end of the season and Michael Ostlund took over the reins. The Saints have to replace long time point guard Brady Bomber and all-conference guard Roger O’Neill. But the Saints have solid seniors in Evan Coulter, Rei Jensen and interesting transfers in Ryan Rogers and Riley Carel. They will play a much more uptempo game than they have in years past and should be fun to watch, win or lose.

Girls soccer
2A District IV semifinals (winner to state)
Black Hills vs. Hockinson – Tumwater Stadium – 7:00 PM

Black Hills hosts Hockinson tonight in a winner to state game in the District IV playoffs. The Wolves knocked off WF West 2-0 on Saturday while Hockinson topped Capital 4-2 and moved to 11-5-1 overall this season. The winner will take on either Mark Morris or Ridgefield in the championship game on Thursday while the loser will fall into a loser-out game against either Tumwater or Aberdeen.

2A District IV consolation (loser-out)
Tumwater vs. Aberdeen – Tumwater Stadium – 5:00 PM
Capital vs. WF West – Ingersoll Stadium – 7:00 PM

High school volleyball
2B District IV Playoffs
Ocosta vs. Wahkiakum – Northwest Christian HS – 5:30 PM
Northwest Christian vs. Ocosta/Wahkiakum – Northwest Christian HS – 7:00 PM

The 2B District IV playoffs begin tonight with an opening round game between Ocosta and Wahkiakum at 5:30 at Northwest Christian High School followed by the Navigators first game between the winner of that game beginning somewhere around 7:00. Northwest Christian went 12-0 in the 2B Pacific League and can make a state appearance by winning their first two matches in districts. With a win, Northwest Christian would move into the semifinals on Thursday at 5:30 at Raymond High School and would take on either Adna, Willapa Valley or Mossyrock. With a loss, they would travel to Willapa Valley High School and face either Napavine or North Beach at 6:30.