The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG -- The WP Cardinals shook off a slow offensive second quarter to hold off the Walla Walla Valley Academy Knights last Tuesday for a 57-49 victory.

The Cardinals grabbed the tipoff and hit the court running, landing the first two baskets of the night with a Zach Bartlow dish off to Dustin Wooderchak and a Sterling Eastman steal that he took the length of the court for two points.

Wooderchak then took his turn with a steal, but lost control under the basket as he tried to find Bartlow, and gave the ball right back to the Knights.

WWVA's first points came from the free-throw line when Matt Moore hit two after being fouled by Sterling Eastman on his way to the hoop.

The free- throw line gave the Knights two more points from Moore, who was once again fouled by Wooderchak while driving up the middle.

The Cardinals continued to score on the Knights with a steal from Dalton Estes that he laid up easily for two and two back-toback baskets from Bartlow.

Estes added another drive up the lane for two and tossed one up from the perimeter for three to force a Knight timeout with a 16-4 Cardinal lead.

The Knights were still left scoreless from the field until WWVA's Jordan Schutte hit one at the buzzer, but not before the Cardinals took a 20-8 lead after the first quarter.

The Cardinals battled the turnover bug in the second quarter due to poor passing that produced multiple Knight buckets.

WP's Owen Lanning came off the bench reading for action as he scored six of the Cardinal 11 second quarter points, but not before the Knights crept up on the sleepy Cardinals offense to narrow the Cardinal half time lead 31-27.

The Cards shook it off in the locker room at half time and came out with back to back fast break lay-ups from Bartlow to Wooderchak despite the Knight full court pressure. Bartlow ekpt it coming with a put back for two and a free throw.

Wooderchak remained to be a force to reckon with as he threw up a trey followed by a drive up the lane for two and a 43-31 Cardinal lead.

Although the Cardinals defensive rebounding began struggling, and Brown was called for back-toback fouls, six more points from Bartlow would help keep them on top 49-33 after the third quarter.

That lead was the Cardinals saving grace as the Knights went on to outscore the Cardinals 18-6 in the final quarter.

The free-throw line was the Knights' best friend as they went 10-for-12 from the line while the Cardinals struggled with connecting on their end.

" WWVA jus t out - worked us on the offensive boards," said WP head coach TJ Scott. "We had multiple times we had the opportunity to bury them and we just couldn't make it happen. We definitely have room to improve on things, like back court pressure."

Although Bartlow seemed to missing his typical flair, he was still the leading scorer with 20 points and he brought down 12 rebounds.

Wooderchak had 15 points while Dalton Estes and Owen Lanning each had eight points.

Brown who seemed a little off his beat still managed to pull down nine rebounds.

The Cardinals as a whole grabbed 41 rebounds and managed a win while shooting 25 percent from the floor.

The Cardinals are in a tie for second place with the Asotin Panthers who they will be facing this Saturday night in Waitsburg at 6:30 p.m.

Waitsburg vs. WWVA 57-49

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