By Loyal Baker

DAYTON–Wolfpack basketball is now 4-2 on the season following a ten-point win over the Walla Walla Valley Academy Knights last Friday, May 28.

Dayton-Waitsburg traveled to Mabton Tuesday for a rematch where they will try to avenge a 33-29 loss earlier this season. Results will appear next week.

The Wolfpack faces River View next Tuesday, May 8 on the home maple then visits TriCities Prep on Thursday, May 10. The regular season closes with a Senior Night contest against Columbia on Friday, June 11.

Dayton-Waitsburg notched a 51-41 win over Walla Walla Valley Academy on Friday, sweeping the Knights this season. DW opened the season with a strong 42-27 win over WWVA.

At Columbia, Dayton-Waitsburg fell by 30 points, 68-38 to the Coyotes on Thursday, May 27.

Information for both games will appear next week.

The Wolfpack took a lead in the first quarter and maintained it, fending off the Jaguars in the fourth quarter to preserve the win.

Monte Pettichord and Dylan Bledsoe both drained treys and Wyatt Costello and Shawn Evans sprung a couple of buckets to lead the team to an 11-6 first-quarter lead.

The Pack and Jaguars battled to nearly a draw in the second period, DW winning the quarter 13-12 for a 24-18 score at halftime. Dayton-Waitsburg spread the scoring threat around that quarter, Colton VanBlaricom, Evans, Pettichord, Bledsoe and Theo Anderson mixing it up, and Evans and Pettichord chipping in free throws.

Coming out in the third quarter, Evans was hot, scoring three baskets, with Costello and Bledsoe also in the field-goal column. But TCP hung in there, a couple of buckets and a flurry of free throws adding up to eight for the Jags.

TCP won the fourth period 8-6, but couldn’t make the run against Dayton-Waitsburg work.

Evans was the scoring leader with 12 and teammates Pettichord, Costello and Bledsoe spread the threat around with eight and seven points, respectively.

DW 40, TCP 34 (5/25)

DW 11 13 10 6-40

TCP 6 12 8 8-34

DW (40) Colton VanBlaricom 2, Shawn Evans 12, Monte Pettichord 8, Wyatt Costello 7, Keon Lindley 2, Dylan Bledsoe 7, Theo Anderson 2. Free throws 6/12-50%. 2pt: 14/28-50%. 3pt: 2/6-33%.

TCP (34) C. Jordan 6, T. Harper 6, A. Hiett 15, A. Baerlocher 7. Free throws: 8/13-62%. 2pt: 13/32-41%. 3pt: 0/7-0%.

At River View on May 22, the Wolfpack rode a solid first half to a 53-45 win, capitalizing on a higher field-goal percentage and a flurry of first-half three pointers.

Mason Finney scored a team-high 18, coming on strong in the fourth quarter with eight points – four from the charity stripe.

Big three pointers were scored by Bledsoe in the second stanza, the junior hitting a pair and Evans draining one as DW outscored River View 16-9 in that quarter.

River View’s Mendoza was the game-high scorer with 26, helping the Panthers with four three pointers, and four field goals, 11 coming in the third quarter when River View outscored DW 17-11.

But the Pack responded with a 15-10 fourth quarter, relying on Finney’s four free throws, plus a pair from Bledsoe and one from Pettichord, to preserve the win.

DW 53, River View 45 (5-22)

DW 11 16 11 15-53

RV 7 9 17 10-45

DW (53) Shawn Evans 14, Mason Finney 18, Monte Pettichord 1, Wyatt Costello 4, Keon Lindley 2, Dylan Bledsoe 14. Free throws: 9/20-45%. 2pt: 16/39-41%. 3pt: 4/12-33%.

RV (45) Gier 8, Mendoza 26, Sanger 5, White 2, Olivera 1, Orozco 3. Free throws: 12/21-57%. 2pt: 9/30-30%. 3pt: 5/22-22%.