The Nooksack Valley Pioneers used a third quarter burst to distance themselves from the Meridian Trojans, on the way to a 67-55 win at Kay LeMaster Gym, Tuesday night.
In a game that could be described more accurately as rough, rather than physical, The Pioneers used a triangle-and-two defense on two of the league’s top scorers, Trojan junior sharp-shooters, Talon Jenkins and Jaeger Fyfe.
For the most part, it was Colton Lentz face guarding Fyfe, and Cory Olney on Jenkins. When they gave up the ball, it was difficult for them to get it back in shooting position. To further the Trojan troubles, Jenkins played very few minutes due to foul trouble, and fouled out early in the fourth quarter with just four points.
Fyfe ended up with 20 points, with 13 coming in the second half, and had to work brutally hard for anything he got.
The Pioneers showed they can also fill it up, with junior forward Tristan Kamphouse scoring ten of his team-high 18 points in the decisive third period. He hit four 3-pointers on the night, all of which came from, what could aptly be named, “Kamphouse Korner.” The Pioneers scored the first 11 points of the third quarter, and took as much as an 18-point lead.
The physicality sent many to the free throw line, where the Pioneers nailed 15-17 on the night, compared to the Trojans 12-24.
As rough as this game was, these two will be very familiar foes by the end of the season. Currently, Nooksack is in the second position in 1A District seeding, and the Trojans are third. If those positions hold, they will meet in the district semifinals. With two teams advancing to state, and Lynden Christian as the top seed, the Trojans and Pioneers could meet for a third time, at the end of the district tournament.
The Pioneers (5-5/9-6) have a short rest before a trip to Mount Baker on Thursday. The Trojans (3-6/8-7) have home games with Lynden Christian on Friday, and Sedro-Woolley on Saturday.
~ Ted House
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