Hockinson boys hit stride in win over Tumwater

TUMWATER – After finishing fourth in the 2A Greater St. Helens League, the Hockinson boys basketball team would seem a long shot to make the state tournament.

Thursday, the Hawks showed that long shots are to their liking.

Hockinson made 11 3-pointers in a 72-47 win over Tumwater to keep its season alive in the 2A district tournament at Black Hills High.

The Hawks face Ridgefield in another loser-out game Friday. The winner of that will play Saturday for the last of the disrict’s three berths to the state tournament.

Hockinson is far from your average team with a 10-12 record. The Hawks played most of the season without top player Peyton Brammer, who broke his foot in November.

In five games since returning on Nov. 29, Brammer averaged 32.2 points. That included scoring 50 in the regular-season finale, a loss to Woodland.

Brammer scored 16 in Thursday, but Hockinson had the kind of well-rounded performance that makes for dangerous matchup. Michael Paulsen scored 21 points, including five 3-pointers. Dakota Souders had 12 points, all coming on 3-pointers.

“Tonight it was all about the whole team,” Brammer said. “We were making the extra pass. We played as a team tonight. It was one of our best games we’ve played all season, for sure.”

Hockinson burst out of the gate, outscoring Tumwater 27-13 in the third quarter. Brammer and Souders each had nine points in the quarter.

Hockinson put the game away in the second quarter, allowing just six points and taking a 43-19 lead into halftime.

“We’ve got everything back right now,” Brammer said. “Everybody’s starting to know everybody’s game. We’ve got gas in the car and we’re going full speed.”

HOCKINSON 72, TUMWATER 47

TUMWATER (8-14) – Peyton Peterson 9, Patrick Williams 3, Jaylen Clay 2, Gunnar Fields 2, Ryan Reed 2, Ethan Dillon 7, Kaden Lewis 0, Camden Oram 4, Damon Gaither 9, Ben Force 0, Luke Murphy 9. Totals 21 (1) 4-6 47.

HOCKINSON (10-12) – Micah Paulsen 21, Dakota Souders 12, Mason Bonife 0, Peyton Brammer 16, Ki Haden 4, Sawyer Racanelli 4, Levi Crum 6, Caleb Newman 3, Jake Hull 0, Jeremiah Faulstick 6, Grant Garver 0. Totals 27 (11) 7-10 72.

Tumwater    13       6          10       18—47

Hockinson    27       16       15       14—72