The Hockinson boys basketball team is in a position no one but Mark Morris has enjoyed since the Monarchs joined the Class 2A Greater St. Helens League.
Thanks to a gutty 52-49 win at Mart Morris on Tuesday, the Hawks control their own destiny in the battle for a league title.
Joshua Hall scored 16 of his 21 points in a big first half, and point guard Doug McDonald hit a game-winning 3-pointer as Hockinson improved to 8-2 in league play and beat Mark Morris for the second time in three games this season.
The result means Hockinson (11-7 overall) can clinch the league title with wins on Friday at Washougal and next Tuesday at home against R.A. Long.
“It feels good to have control of our destiny,” Hockinson coach Matt Gruhler said. “We know this win means nothing if we don’t play well in the games against Washougal and R.A. Long.”
The coach noted that R.A. Long has beaten his Hawks, and Washougal has played Hockinson close this season.
Hall’s hot hand, including a couple of early 3-pointers, helped the Hawks to a 12-point lead in the first quarter.
Hockinson never trailed, but the Monarchs (11-6) tied the game late. The tiebreaking shot was delivered by McDonald, who knocked down a 3-pointer from near the top of the key. Hall drove the baseline, attracted two defenders, and passed to McDonald as the shot clock was running out.
Tanner Brill and Rem Bakamus missed 3-pointers on the final Mark Morris possession.
Boys basketball
At Mountain View 58, Prairie 54 — Three players scored in double figures, and the Thunder made big shots down the stretch for a key win in the 3A Greater St. Helens League. Rico Bolivar scored eight of his game-high 22 points in the fourth quarter, and Zach Torson hit a crucial 3-pointer to give Mountain View a four-point lead with 90 seconds remaining.
Torson finished with 16 points, six in the fourth quarter. Ryan Johnson added 15 points for the Thunder.
At Union 62, Skyview 47 — Tanner Nelson scored 13 points and Kyle Holmes scored all 10 of his points in the second half for Union. Jacob Troupe tallied 12 points and Jordan Chatman added 10 for the Titans, who led 35-23 at halftime.
Evergreen 64, at Heritage 31 — Warren Edmondson scored 20 points for Evergreen, which led 32-6 at halftime.
Tim Hergert and Ezekiel Wells scored 11 points each for Heritage.
Camas 75, at Battle Ground 61 — Bryan Butler and Jacob Kaler scored 16 apiece as the Papermakers controlled the non-league game. Camas led by nine points after one quarter, and built its lead to 20 entering the fourth quarter.
R.A. Long 67, at Woodland 32 — Sullivan Carter scored 17 points and the Lumberjacks surged to a 35-9 halftime lead on the way to the Class 2A Greater St. Helens League victory.
King’s Way Christian 65, Seton Catholic 54 — Matt Johnson had 15 points and 12 rebounds, and Chris Crenshaw 14 points and 13 wins for the Knights, who built a 15-point halftime lead. Conor McDaid-O’Neill had 11 points and 11 rebounds for Seton Catholic.
Columbia Adventist 63, Three Rivers Christian 34 — Thomas Reed scored 18 for Columbia Adventist in the win, which was keyed by a 17-4 second quarter.
Vancouver Christian 56, Washington School for the Deaf 29 — Jake Morris scored 21 points and Tyler Beck 19 for the Light in the Columbia Valley league win.
Girls basketball
Fort Vancouver 41, at Columbia River 29 — Mar’shay Moore scored 15 points and Skyla Reyes added 12 as Fort picked up his first win in more than two years.
Lauren Heller went down with a knee injury in the first quarter as River built a 12-7 lead. But the Trappers outscored River 28-9 in the second half.
Fort’s last win came against R.A. Long on Jan. 9, 2009, a streak of 49 consecutive losses.
If Fort (1-18, 1-10) beats Bay on Friday, it would cause a three-way tie for fifth place and force a three-way tiebreaker between Fort, River and Bay for the final district playoff spot on Monday.
If Bay wins on Friday, the Eagles would claim the final playoff spot.
Kelso 57, at Hudson’s Bay 46 — Brittany Davis had 15 points and five steals for Hudson’s Bay, which missed a chance to clinch a playoff berth.
Evergreen 58, at Heritage 36 — The Plainsmen stayed on track for a showdown with Skyview for the league title. Justine Joudrey led the way with 21 points and Jessica Chatman added 12. For Heritage, TeeTee Martin scored 15 and Emily Myers 12.
At Skyview 48, Union 22 — Brooke Bowen scored 14 points and Katie Swanson added 10 as the Storm overcame a slow start.
At Battle Ground 44, Camas 42 — Haley Grossman’s rebound basket at the buzzer was the difference in the nonleague game. Grossman finished with 16 points nine rebounds and three steals. She rebounded a Nikki bond miss on the final possession for the winning points.
Stevenson 53, at White Salmon 35 — Clare Chapman grabbed 17 rebounds for the Bulldogs in the Trico League win. Jen Rathgaber led Stevenson scorers with 14 points. Courtney Rutherford had 10 rebounds for the Bulldogs.
