HOOD RIVER — The Hood River Valley girls basketball team struggled offensively in its first two games this past weekend at the Interstate Shootout tournament at Lake Oswego High School. The Eagles (3-4) lost Dec. 20 and 21, scoring season lows in both games. (HRV had a third contest on Dec. 22.)
The Eagles entered the tourney coming off a win over Sandy on the Pioneer’s home court Dec. 16, 32-22. Senior Bella Howe made three 3-pointers during a pivotal run when HRV took control of the game.
The Eagles started to pull away in the low-scoring game late in the second period. Addi Van Metre scored on a short jumper in the key for a 15-9 HRV lead. Howe closed the first-half scoring with a 3-pointer from the left wing, giving the Eagles an 18-11 lead.
After Sandy pulled within 24-15 early in the fourth quarter, Howe nailed a deep trey to push the lead back to double digits. Sandy made another mini run a few minutes later and Howe scored on a runner from the left short corner to give Hood River a 29-19 advantage.
Defensively, sophomore guard Honey Wampler-Bryan was instrumental in slowing down Sandy’s best player, Laila Kitchen, especially in the third quarter when the Eagles started to pull away. HRV had no answer for 6A Lake Oswego in the Dec. 20 first round of the Interstate Shootout (Navy division) hosted by the Lakers. Lake Oswego’s trapping half-court defense, whether from a 1-2-2 look or a 2-3 setup, frustrated HRV the entire contest.
Hood River led 16-14 at the half but never looked comfortable offensively. Lake Oswego stayed in an aggressive 2-3 zone — trapping hard in the corners — the entire second half. The result: HRV did not make a field goal, turned the ball over 10 times in the third period alone, and was outscored 29-7. The Eagles did hit 7-of-8 from the foul line.
Howe’s two free throws with 1:50 remaining in the third period were Hood River’s only points of the quarter. Howe would finish with seven points and teammate Isa Rivera led HRV with eight — all in the first half.
Hood River’s second round tourney game Dec. 21 against 6A Ida B. Wells of Portland didn’t go to plan either, as the Eagles lost, 46-19.
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