Category Archives: North Thurston HS

Tuesday scoreboard: Volleyball Leaders T-Birds, Navigators Roll; Wolves, T-Birds Soccer Posts Sevens

High school volleyball

Black Hills 3, WF West 1 (25-16, 25-22, 23-25, 25-21)
Tumwater 3, Centralia 0 (25-15, 27-25, 25-10)
Capital 3, River Ridge 0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-23)
Northwest Christian 3, Ocosta 0 (25-14, 25-15, 25-10)
Olympia 3, South Kitsap 0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-14)


Girls soccer

Timberline 3, Shelton 0
Black Hills 7, WF West 1
Capital 4, River Ridge 1
Tumwater 7, Centralia 0
Foss 2, North Thurston 1
Gig Harbor 1, Olympia 0

High School Football Power Rankings: T-Birds Easily on Top; Streaky Teams Rise

The T-Birds retain their top power ranking.

T-Birds have a stranglehold on #1

Tumwater has a lock on #1 and even if they drop a game to either River Ridge or Black Hills in the next two weeks, they will probably go the entire season as the top team in the Oly Sports Power Rankings.

After that, though, it’s a big question mark. Timberline and Capital are riding the longest winning streaks of the remaining teams with three each and end up at #2 and #3 despite long losing streaks of their own. Rochester would be #2 but they dropped a game to Montesano two weeks ago.

All but three teams are still technically in the playoff hunt but only five teams actually have a legitimate shot at going to the postseason. The playoff picture breaks down like this (yes, it’s a bit murky and wishy-washy):

In: Tumwater, Rochester
Almost in: Timberline
Good chance to be in: Capital, Tenino
Possibly in with a little help: North Thurston
Chances are extremely slim: Black Hills, Olympia, River Ridge
Out: Yelm, Rainier, Shelton

——————————————–

1. Tumwater T-Birds (7-0, 3-0 2A EvCo)
Two weeks ago: #1 (No change)
Previous game: Tumwater 59, Centralia 20
Next game: vs. River Ridge (4-3) – Tumwater Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Not surprisingly, the T-Birds ran past Centralia and have a stranglehold on the top spot in the Oly Sports power rankings and moved to the #1 spot in the coaches poll last week. What is really impressive about Tumwater is that they have had a different star nearly every single week. Last week it was Christian Cummings again. Who will it be this week?


2.
Timberline Blazers (4-3, 3-1 3A Narrows)
Two weeks ago: #6 (+4)
Previous game: Timberline 60, Mount Tahoma 0
Next game: vs. North Thurston (4-3) – South Sound Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: The Blazers are a streaky team this year, for sure, and are back in the #2 spot in the power rankings thanks to a three game losing streak and the struggles of other area teams. Timberline lost three straight games but have won three in a row beating Lincoln, Foss and Mount Tahoma with North Thurston and Shelton left to play. And thanks to Foss knocking off Wilson and the big Lincoln/Wilson game coming up on Friday and a key Foss/Lincoln game to close out the season, the Blazers could very well end up winning the Narrows.


3.
Capital Cougars (3-4, 3-1 2A EvCo)
Two weeks ago: #7 (+4)
Previous game: Capital 39, Black Hills 7
Next game: vs. WF West (6-1) – Ingersoll Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: After a killer opening four weeks of the season that saw them take on three 4A schools and Tumwater, the Cougars are as hot as can be outscoring their opponents 136-20 over the last three games and now find themselves as the odds on favorite to take the third and final playoff spot in the 2A EvCo and could actually end up taking the #2 spot with a win over WF West this week.


4.
Rochester Warriors (5-2, 4-1 1A Evergreen)
Two weeks ago: #3 (-1)
Previous game: Rochester 35, Forks 7
Next game: vs. Stevenson (2-5) – Rochester Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Rochester rebounded convincingly with a 35-7 win over Forks after dropping a game to Montesano two weeks ago and they sit half a game ahead of the rest of the pack in the 1A Evergreen at 4-1 with a non-conference game coming up on Friday against Stevenson. The Warriors have complete control their own destiny in the conference and would take home the title with a win at Tenino next week. Lose to Tenino and either Elma or the Beavers would take home the top spot.


5.
Tenino Beavers (3-4, 3-1 1A Evergreen)
Two weeks ago: #5 (No change)
Previous game: Tenino 26, Montesano 6
Next game: vs. Hoquiam (2-5) – Tenino Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Crazy season in the 1A Evergreen and Tenino did something they haven’t done in 17 seasons: beat Montesano. And they did so handily and have given themselves an opportunity to win the conference. First they need to beat Hoquiam at home on Friday, then knock off Rochester on November 1st and hope that Elma falters against either Forks or Montesano.


6.
North Thurston (4-3, 2-2 3A Narrows)
Two weeks ago: #10 (+4)
Previous game: North Thurston 24, Shelton 6
Next game: @ North Thurston (4-3) – South Sound Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: The Rams snapped their three game skid against Shelton thanks to 121 yards and three touchdowns from Hayden Maliska. They didn’t look great doing so, but they did get the job done. They are still in the playoff hunt and are actually in pretty good shape despite sitting in fifth place. Even if they lose to Timberline, they get winless Mount Tahoma in the last game of the year and if Lincoln beats Foss on the final day, the Rams and Falcons would finish tied for the fourth and last spot with the Rams holding the tiebreaker. UPDATE: I was wrong. I forgot the Narrows has just three playoff spots this year. The Rams need to beat Timberline this week, for sure.


7.
Black Hills (3-4, 1-2 2A EvCo)
Two weeks ago: #4 (-3)
Previous game: Capital 39, Black Hills 7
Next game: @ Centralia (2-5) – Tiger Stadium, Centralia – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Black Hills is still in the playoff hunt just a game behind third place Capital and likely will sit tied with the Cougars at 2-2 after this week. But the Cougars have the tiebreaker with their 39-7 win over the Wolves so it would take a massive, shocking upset in the Pioneer Bowl and Capital would have to lay an egg against River Ridge for Dominic Yarrington’s squad to see the postseason.


8.
Olympia Bears (4-3, 2-2 4A Narrows)
Two weeks ago: #2 (-6)
Previous game: Gig Harbor 27, Olympia 21
Next game: @ Bellarmine (6-1) – Memorial Stadium, Tacoma – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Wow, speaking of upsets. The Bears season comes down to having to upset Bellarmine in Tacoma on Friday night. Even then, they would still need to beat Yelm in week nine and get some help to make the playoffs. Derrick Becker threw for over 300 yards in their loss to Gig Harbor but it wasn’t enough to overcome allowing 310 rushing yards to the Tides’ Sterling Brown.


9.
River Ridge (4-3, 1-2 2A EvCo)
Two weeks ago: #8 (-1)
Previous game: WF West 44, River Ridge 21
Next game: @ Tumwater (7-0) – Tumwater Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: I guess somebody had to draw the short stick in the 2A EvCo and that just happens to be River Ridge. They played WF West last week, get Tumwater this week and finish with Capital on November 1st. They did play a really good first half against the Bearcats but couldn’t stop Tanner Gueller the rest of the way.


10.
Yelm Tornadoes (3-4, 1-3 4A Narrows)
Two weeks ago: #9 (-1)
Previous game: Bellarmine 53, Yelm 14
Next game: @ Gig Harbor (6-1) – Roy Andersen Field, Gig Harbor – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Jason Ronquillo’s Tornadoes have struggled in the meat of the 4A Narrows League dropping three straight to the Kitsaps and Bellarmine and still have Gig Harbor and Olympia on the docket and easily could finish 1-5 in league play this season.


11.
Rainier Mountaineers (1-6, 0-5 1A Evergreen)
Two weeks ago: #11 (No change)
Previous game: Hoquiam 46, Rainier 9
Next game: vs. Montesano (3-4) – Rainier HS – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Six straight losses for Rainier with an angry Montesano team coming to town this week and a trip to Vancouver to face Seton Catholic in their season finale. Still a much improved team over last season.


12.
Shelton Highclimbers (0-7, 0-4 3A Narrows)
Two weeks ago: #12 (No change)
Previous game: North Thurston 24, Shelton 6
Next game: vs. Mount Tahoma (0-6) – Highclimber Stadium – Friday, 7:00 PM

Notes: Shelton played relatively tough against North Thurston, all things considered. That might be more of a comment on the Rams than the Highclimbers, though. Six offensive touchdowns all season long but that number could easily double this week against winless Mount Tahoma, who have scored just 12 points all year long.

Tie-13. Northwest Christian Navigators (0-0)/Pope John Paul II Eagles (0-0)
Two weeks ago: Unranked
Previous Navigators game: Pe Ell 55, Northwest Christian 6 (11/5/2011)
Previous Eagles game: Never played
Next games: Idle

Notes: I didn’t want to rank Shelton last for another week. Yes Northwest Christian has lost 12 straight games, but then again, they haven’t lost in nearly two years. PJPII will probably never lose a football game.

Today (10/22): South Sound Stadium Girls Soccer Tripleheader; Bears hope to upset Tides

Monday scoreboard

High school volleyball

Timberline 3, Shelton 0 (25-18 25-16 25-13)


Schedule for Tuesday, October 22nd

Girls soccer

Timberline vs. Shelton – South Sound Stadium – 3:00 PM
North Thurston vs. Foss – South Sound Stadium – 5:00 PM
Capital @ River Ridge – South Sound Stadium – 7:00 PM
Black Hills vs. WF West – Tumwater Stadium – 7:00 PM
Olympia vs. Gig Harbor – Ingersoll Stadium – 7:15 PM


High school volleyball

River Ridge @ Capital – Capital HS – 7:00 PM
Northwest Christian vs. Ocosta – Northwest Christian HS – 7:00 PM
Tumwater vs. Centralia – Tumwater HS – 7:00 PM

Today (10/21): Rams and Blazers Volleyball

Schedule for Monday, October 21st

High school volleyball

North Thurston vs. Mount Tahoma – North Thurston HS – 7:00 PM
Timberline vs. Shelton – Timberline HS – 7:00 PM

The top three teams in the 3A Narrows League are in action tonight when North Thurston hosts Mount Tahoma and Timberline faces Shelton. The Blazers and Highclimbers sit in first and second place at 9-0 and 8-2 respectively. If all goes as expected, North Thurston (7-2) should leap ahead of Shelton for second place with a match against Timberline still looming next week.

Saturday Afternoon Quarterback: Bears Reeling, Cougs Rolling; Beavs, Warriors on Collision Course; Toilet Bowl Set

Derrick Becker

Derrick Becker

Most of the games last night were blowouts but there are now some interesting story lines to watch over the next couple weeks. Here are some quick thoughts on last night’s action…

—————

Capital 39, Black Hills 7
Gig Harbor 27, Olympia 21

The transfer of Derrick Becker to Olympia from Capital in the offseason links the the fate of these two teams this season and though Becker and the Bears got the better of the Cougars in the Spaghetti Bowl, it might be the burgundy and gold who gets the last laugh.

Despite throwing for over 300 yards and a pair of touchdowns, Becker’s Bears dropped their second straight 4A Narrows League game and fell to 2-2 in league and are on the verge of not making the playoffs. They have to win their next two games against league leading Bellarmine and then knock off Yelm in the finale and get some help along the way for their season to continue.

Meanwhile, thanks to a huge night by Jakob Racimo, Capital has now won three straight games after their 0-4 start and look to be the odds on favorite to take the third playoff spot in the 2A EvCo. They sit at 2-1 in conference play with WF West and River Ridge still on the schedule.

If Capital makes the playoffs and the Bears stay home, I’m sure that there will be plenty of Cougar fans/current players that will consider that poetic justice for a student that left their school for purely football reasons.


Tenino 26, Montesano 6
Rochseter 35, Forks 7

According to Brandon Hansen of The Chronicle, Tenino’s win over Montesano is their first win over the Bulldogs in 17 seasons. And with the win, the Beavers now sit at 3-1 in the 1A Evergreen Conference, a half game behind 4-1 Rochester. The whole thing has left a lot of people who follow the league closely scratching their heads.

If Tenino can knock off Hoquiam on Friday night, it will setup an intense regular season finale between the rival Beavers and Warriors with first place in conference on the line. Let’s hope for that to play out because a game between Rochester’s Tyler Yarber (270 yards and four touchdowns against Forks) and Tyler Gedney and Tenino’s Zack Chamberlain, Thomas Pier and Calvin Guzman with the Evergreen title on the line would be about as good as it gets. Get yourself to Tenino Stadium bright and early on November 1st if it all comes true.

Of course Elma still has a say in things. They also sit at 3-1 and would own the tiebreaker over Tenino if the two teams finished at 5-1 in conference. Rochester holds the tiebreaker over the Eagles thanks to their 49-14 win on October 4th.


Timberline 60, Mount Tahoma 0
North Thurston 24, Shelton 6

Timberline and North Thurston took care of business this weekend and set up a big rivalry game next week with just a game separating the two schools in the 3A Narrows League standings. The Rams sit at 2-2 in league while the Blazers are 3-1

But more importantly, Mount Tahoma and Shelton stayed winless on the season setting up the game of the year: T-Birds, Highclimbers. Friday. Highclimbers Stadium. Who will get off the schneid? We’ll have the game live for you on Newsradio 1030 AM KMAS, 104.1 FM and KMAS.com. Can’t wait!

Thursday scoreboard: Rams handle Highclimbers; Saints volleyball sweeps ‘Jackets; No high school volleyball surprises


High school football

North Thurston 24, Shelton 6

Hayden Maliska rushed for over 100 yards and scored three touchdowns, all in the first half, to lead North Thurston past Shelton 24-6. The Highclimbers got on the board in the fourth quarter with an 11 yard touchdown pass from Jake Beck to Colton Hubble, just their fifth offensive touchdown of the 2013 season. The Rams move to 2-2 in the 3A Narrows League and 4-3 overall. Shelton falls to 0-7 overall and 0-4 in league.

College volleyball

Saint Martin’s 3, Montana State-Billings 0 (25-19, 25-18, 29-27) – Recap


Women’s soccer

#2 Western Washington 3, Saint martin’s 1 – Recap
Eastern Oregon 4, Evergreen 0 – Recap


Men’s soccer

Montana State-Billings 4, Saint Martin’s 0 – Box score


High school volleyball

Timberline 3, Wilson 0 (25-13 25-12 25-16)
Capital 3, Centralia 0 (25-14, 25-22, 25-12)
Tumwater 3, River Ridge 0 (25-11, 25-7, 25-17)
Northwest Christian 3, Naselle 1 (25-19 23-25 25-4 25-15)


Girls soccer

Timberline 4, Foss 1
North Thurston 2, Wilson 2
Tumwater 4, River Ridge 0
Olympia 2, South Kitsap 0

Today (10/17): Saints, Geoducks women take the pitch; Rams try to snap skid against Highclimbers

Women’s soccer

Saint Martin’s vs. Western Washington – SMU Soccer Field – 3:00 PM
Evergreen vs. Eastern Oregon – Evergreen Pitch – 4:00 PM


Girls soccer

Timberline vs. Foss – South Sound Stadium – 3:30 PM
Olympia vs. South Kitsap – Ingersoll Stadium – 5:15 PM
River Ridge @ Tumwater – Tumwater Stadium – 7:00 PM
Capital vs. Centralia – Ingersoll Stadium – 7:30 PM


High school football

Shelton @ North Thurston – South Sound Stadium – 7:00 PM – Radio: KMAS


High school volleyball

Tumwater @ River Ridge – River Ridge HS – 7:00 PM

Wednesday scoreboard: Clippers nip Raiders; T-Birds, Rams nab non-league wins

Men’s soccer

SPSCC 3, Pierce 2 – Box score

Justyn Taylor scored a pair of goals in the second half to lift South Puget Sound to a 3-2 win over Pierce College at Heritage Recreation Center in Puyallup on Wednesday afternoon. Mike Rancipher scored the first goal for the Clippers at the 46th minute and Taylor followed it up with a goal in the 48th minute and another in the 82nd minute. Alex Cleary made four saves in the win. SPSCC is now 2-7 in the NWAACC South Division.


High school volleyball

Tumwater 3, Olympia 0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-18)
North Thurston 3, Fife 1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-12, 25-16)

Today (10/15): Geoducks Battle Warriors; Girls Soccer and Volleyball Galore

GeoducksCavs_30Men’s soccer

Evergreen vs. Corban – Evergreen Pitch – 4:00 PM

The Evergreen men’s soccer team was picked to finish second in the Cascade Conference this season but have hit the skids and are winless over their last four games and sit in sixth place at 2-4-1, out of the playoffs if the season were to end today. Today they face first place Corban, who is undefeated this season at 9-0-1 overall and 6-0-1 in CCC play. The Geoducks and Warriors met on September 28th in Salem and played to a double overtime draw.


Girls soccer

River Ridge vs. WF West – South Sound Stadium – 5:00 PM
North Thurston @ Timberline – South Sound Stadium – 7:00 PM
Black Hills @ Capital – Ingersoll Stadium – 7:00 PM
Tumwater vs. Aberdeen – Tumwater Stadium – 7:00 PM


High school volleyball

Olympia vs. Stadium – Olympia HS – 7:00 PM
Northwest Christian vs. North Beach – Northwest Christian HS – 7:00 PM
Black Hills @ Capital – Capital HS – 7:00 PM
North Thurston vs. Wilson – North Thurston HS – 7:00 PM

Football day after report: thoughts, notes and standings after week 6

Once I get home on Friday nights after calling a Shelton football game on KMAS, I generally don’t feel like writing anything about the night’s games. So though we are already past week six of the high school football season, I’m introducing a new feature: the day after report. Just some brief thoughts and notes about the previous night’s games. Not a terribly innovative feature, just something that is needed here on Oly Sports.

Plus updated league standings at the end…

—————

Lincoln 41, Shelton 6

Let’s start off with the game that I witnessed firsthand calling it for KMAS.

First of all, this game wasn’t nearly as close as the score indicates. The only reason it looks even reasonably competitive is because Lincoln played poorly. Yes, they completely dominated the game but they had a ridiculous amount of mistakes, committed at least 20 penalties and generally did not perform like an elite team. It’s no wonder that they lost to Timberline. The combined record of the six teams that they have played is 7-29. With North Thurston scuffling, they don’t have a win over a decent team yet this season.

I was also not impressed with how the Abes handled themselves in a blowout. It began at the end of the first half when after a second down running play for the Highclimbers with 51 seconds left, the Abes took a timeout to stop the clock. Shelton threw an incomplete pass on third down and then punted on the next play.

The Abes, up 27-0 and completely dominating play and on their own 20 yard line with less than 40 second left in the half, missed on a long bomb up the middle on first down before Jordan Kitna found J’Maka Love on a 10 yard pass and Love went another 70 yards untouched to give the Abes a 34-0 lead at halftime.

In the second half, the Abes continued to run hurry up, no huddle plays when they weren’t walking off penalties and continued to throw on nearly every down. After not bringing anybody at punter Colton Hubble in the first half, they went after every punt in the second half and continued to blitz Shelton quarterback Jake Beck on nearly every down.

When the game ended, they celebrated like no other team I have seen celebrate in the two years I’ve been calling games. They came to the near side of the field and did a poor version of the Haka while a couple of players, including Love, were seen doing back flips. For a 35 point win in which they played poorly. Against 0-6 Shelton. It was unbecoming.


Tumwater 26, Bellarmine 14

Ever since we saw them in week one against Shelton, I’ve been saying that Tumwater might be one of the top three teams in the state regardless of class. Hard not to have that argument after they knocked off the #3 ranked 4A school in Bellarmine. And with River Ridge, Centralia and Black Hills remaining in the regular season, the T-Birds should go into the playoffs undefeated.


Capital 47, North Thurston 7

I had North Thurston as high as #2 in my power rankings after seeing them physically dominate Steilacoom in week one and take it to Black Hills in week two. But the Rams have now been outscored 129-23 over the last three games and sit in fifth place ahead in the Narrows at 1-2 ahead of just winless Mount Tahoma and Shelton. They should get right this week against the Highclimbers.

Capital, on the other hand, has scored 97 points in their last two games after their brutal opening four week schedule in which they scored just 49 points total. They have Black Hills, WF West and River Ridge left on the docket.


Central Kitsap 28, Olympia 21

A week after Olympia almost allowed South Kitsap to get back into the game in the second half, they allowed Central Kitsap to score the last 21 points and dropped their first game in the 4A Narrows League. They now have an uphill climb if they want to finish first or second in league facing Gig Harbor this week and Bellarmine next week before finishing with Yelm.


Timberline 19, Foss 13

Suddenly, Timberline is back. Two straight wins over Lincoln and Foss and the Blazers sit at 2-1 in the 3A Narrows. They have just one tough game left on their schedule with North Thurston sandwiched between Mount Tahoma and Shelton. If Lincoln beats Wilson in two weeks, the Blazers could easily end up in a three way tie for first place.


Standings after Week 6

4A Narrows League

1. Bellarmine – 3-0 (5-1 overall)
2. Gig Harbor – 3-0 (5-1)
3. Olympia – 2-1 (4-2)
4. Central Kitsap – 2-2 (4-2)
5. Yelm – 1-2 (3-3)
6. South Kitsap – 1-3 (2-4)
7. Stadium – 0-4 (1-5)


3A Narrows League

1. Wilson – 4-0 (6-0)
2. Lincoln – 3-1 (5-1)
3. Timberline – 2-1 (3-3)
4. Foss – 2-2 (4-2)
5. North Thurston 1-2 (3-3)
6. Shelton – 0-3 (0-6)
7. Mount Tahoma – 0-3 (0-6)


2A Evergreen Conference

1. Tumwater – 2-0 (6-0)
2. River Ridge – 2-1 (4-2)

3. WF West – 1-1 (5-1)
4. Black Hills – 1-1 (3-3)
5. Capital 1-1 (2-4)

6. Centralia 0-3 (2-4)


1A Evergreen Conference

1. Rochester – 3-1 (4-2)
2. Elma – 3-1 (3-3)
3. Tenino – 2-1 (2-4)
4. Forks – 2-1 (3-3)
5. Montesano – 2-1 (3-3)
6. Hoquiam – 0-3 (1-5)
7. Rainier – 0-4 (1-5)