Astoria, Warrenton and Knappa all post wins with season in full gearJEWELL – A 3-pointer by Zach Woods with 15 seconds left capped a thrilling comeback for the Jewell boys basketball team Friday night.

The Bluejays (4-6 overall, 2-2 in league) overcame a five-point deficit with 50 seconds left for a 47-45 win over Open Door Academy in a Casco League contest.

Woods’ final shot gave him a game-high 24 points, to go with seven rebounds and three steals. Teammate Will Steinweg pulled down 10 rebounds with four points.

Jewell led 25-19 at halftime and 36-34 after three quarters, but the Jays’ 6-for-20 effort at the free throw line left the door open for Open Door, which took a five-point lead late in the final period.

The Jays host Damascus Tuesday.

Astoria 56, Molalla 41MOLALLA – Astoria reached the midway point of the regular season with a 56-41 win at Molalla Friday night.

The Fishermen evened their overall record at 6-6, with a nonleague game at North Marion Tuesday.

Astoria trailed 29-26 at halftime, but rallied to outscore the Indians 30-12 in the second half.

Josh Ray scored 17 points and Nick Alfonse added 12 points, five rebounds and three assists for the Fishermen.

Warrenton 53, Vernonia 20VERNONIA – Warrenton rebounded from last Thursday’s loss to Portland Adventist with a 53-20 win at Vernonia Saturday night.

Eric Gantenbein had a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Warriors (3-1 in league).

Vernonia led 9-7 after one quarter, but the Warriors outscored the Loggers 32-5 over the second and third periods to take a commanding lead.

Warrenton was missing Brandon Engebretson, who will return Friday at Portland Christian. The Warriors host Knappa Tuesday.

Knappa 57, Riverdale 41KNAPPA – Knappa cruised to another Northwest League victory Friday night, jumping out to a 33-11 halftime lead on its way to a 57-41 win over Riverdale.

The Loggers improve to 7-5 overall and 3-0 in league, with all three wins by 16 or more points.

Doug Graham and Curtis Olds scored 11 points apiece in Friday’s win, with six points each from Kory Hamar, Brian Anderson and Brian Riffe.

Wahkiakum 81, Naselle 43NASELLE, Wash. – Wahkiakum had four players in double figures and held a 52-16 lead by halftime Saturday night, as the Mules kicked Naselle 81-43.

Aoy Marion led the Comets with 15 points, while Romeo Savant led Wahkiakum with 17, followed by Shane Kehrli (16), Tanner Tramblie (15) and Travis Bain (14).

Girls BasketballJewell 58, Open Door 21JEWELL – Jewell improved to 4-0 in league play with a 58-21 win over Open Door Friday night.

Led by Sam Uerling’s 10 points and eight rebounds, the Bluejays jumped out to a 33-11 halftime lead.

Frances Dugan added eight points and eight rebounds, and Larissa Williams scored six points with seven boards for Jewell, which hosts Damascus Christian (4-0) Tuesday.

Ilwaco 48, Astoria 41GARY HENLEY – The Daily Astorian

Ilwaco’s Ashley Kitzman, a 6-foot-1 center, posts up on Astoria 5-4 guard Marlie Cokley, right, during Ilwaco’s nonleague basketball win Saturday night.One night after rallying from a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Molalla in overtime, the Astoria girls basketball team gave up a six-point lead in the final period and lost to visiting Ilwaco, 48-41.

Ilwaco trailed 33-26 entering the fourth, but thanks to some clutch free throws and another stellar performance by Ashley Kitzman, the Lady Fishermen from the north side of the Columbia River clinched the victory.

Kitzman scored 26 points, one night after scoring 41 in a win over Kalama.

Astoria built an early lead with 3-pointers from Nicole McBride and Corey Jacobson, and grabbed a 29-19 advantage following a Jacobson score late in the third.

Ilwaco took its first lead of the second half on two free throws by Kitzman with 3:54 left.

Kitzman scored 13 of her 26 points in the fourth, and teammate Robyn Unruh was 7-of-8 at the free throw line in the final period to help Ilwaco maintain its lead. As a team, Ilwaco was 12-of-14 at the line in the fourth quarter, 22-of-30 for the game.

Astoria (16-of-53 from the field) was led by Jacobson’s 12 points and Sara Kelly’s six rebounds.

Astoria 42, Molalla 41Astoria scored a total of 19 points through three quarters Friday night, equaled that total in the fourth quarter, then beat Molalla 42-41 in overtime in a nonleague thriller at the Brick House.

The Fishermen outscored the Indians 4-3 in overtime to snap an eight-game losing streak.

Astoria overcame an 11-for-26 effort at the free throw line (Molalla was 12-for-29), and used some heavy defensive pressure to rally from the 16-point, fourth-quarter deficit.

The Fishermen outscored Molalla 19-3 in the fourth to send the game to overtime.

Corey Jacobson scored 14 points and pulled down six rebounds for Astoria.

Vernonia 34, Warrenton 33VERNONIA – Struggles at the free throw line cost Warrenton a game Saturday night as the Warriors dropped a 34-33 Northwest League game contest at Vernonia.

Warrenton was 15-of-30 at the line and 9-of-38 from the field. The Loggers weren’t much better (9-of-19 from the line), but sophomore Joreigh Landers scored 16 points to carry Vernonia to the win.

Whitney Johnson scored 10 to lead Warrenton, which slipped to 1-3 in league play. Liz O’Casey chipped in nine points with 13 rebounds.

The Warriors host Knappa Tuesday and play at Portland Christian Friday.

Knappa 64, Riverdale 23KNAPPA – Knappa had 27 steals and forced 48 Riverdale turnovers Friday night in a 64-23 win over the Mavericks.

Rachele Schuyler scored 17 points and had 10 rebounds (all offensive) to lead the Loggers, 3-0 in league, 11-2 overall.

Nadra Evans added 14 points, seven steals and six assists for the Loggers, who were 30-of-85 from the field and 2-of-10 at the free throw line.

Ilwaco 67, Kalama 58KALAMA, Wash. – Ashley Kitzman was nearly unstoppable Friday night at Kalama, as she pumped in a career-high 41 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in Ilwaco’s 67-58 win over the Chinooks.

Kitzman was 13-of-20 at the free throw line and blocked four shots, and her 41 points was just shy of the school record held by Lindsey Ramsey.

The Fishermen rallied from a 32-27 halftime deficit by outscoring Kalama 25-11 in the third quarter.

WrestlingPike wins titleWALDPORT – Warrenton’s Billy Pike is officially healthy again, following his individual championship in the Alsea Bay Classic, Friday and Saturday in Waldport.

Pike won the title at 145 pounds, and teammates Dan Wolfe (140) and Alex Dustin (171) both finished second in their respective weight classes.

The Warriors (105 points) placed seventh in the team standings, while Siuslaw won with 205. Knappa placed 10th with 90.

Pike defeated Colin Phillips of Taft (ranked No. 7 in Class 3A at 145) in the final, holding Phillips on his back for the majority of the third round for the win.

Wolfe reached the final at 140, where he lost to Corey Parrish of Oakridge; and Dustin took second at 171, dropping the final to Cody Taylor.

Astoria thirdThe Astoria wrestling team placed third in the team standings in a four-way meet Saturday at the Brick House.

McKay took first with eight individual winners, followed by Clatskanie, Astoria and Wilsonville.

No other details were available.

Pirates win consolationREDMOND – Neah-Kah-Nie lost its opening round match to Glide, but bounced back to win its next three to take the Class 2A consolation trophy at the Oregon Wrestling Classic, Friday and Saturday in Redmond.

After a 46-31 loss to Glide, Neah-Kah-Nie defeated Harrisburg (40-39), Colton (51-30) and Myrtle Point (54-36) to win the consolation round.