District bound

Shelton boys cruise into postseason riding 5-game win streak

Matt Baide | Feb 09, 20230

Matt Baide count

Shelton's Weetly Cordova drives to the basket while contested by Aberdeen defenders during an Evergreen Conference boys basketball game Jan. 31 at Terry Gregg Court in Shelton.

The Shelton boys basketball team concluded the regular season on Monday with a 66-47 win against Rochester on the road.

The Highclimbers earned a 54-53 win on Feb. 2 in Centralia against the Tigers and earned a win on senior night against Aberdeen 87-55 on Jan. 31. Shelton has won five in a row to end the regular season and finish 11-8 overall and 6-6 in Evergreen Conference games.

After losing the entire starting lineup last season, coach Sam Krieger said the Highclimbers had a pretty good season.

"A lot of new guys in new roles. We ended up playing the tough teams first, that was a learning experience," Krieger said. "We dealt with illnesses, injuries. We've fought through that adversity and gave ourselves an opportunity at the postseason."

Shelton began the season with a five-game losing streak before winning six in a row. The Highclimbers then lost three straight games before ending the season on a five-game win streak.

Krieger credited Weetly Cordova, Mason Goos, Gabe Menefee and Matt Carleton for stepping into leadership roles this season.

"Cordova has blossomed into a three-level scorer. He's the best scorer on the team," Krieger said. "Mason stepped up and played that four and he's instigator of our offense and provides muscle on the interior. Gabe stepped into the point guard spot and developed into a scoring threat. Matt Carleton, it's his first year and his athleticism and height on the interior has been big for us."

Krieger said the goal for the team was to make the playoffs and they have accomplished that.

"I thought our ceiling was a good height. We had potential to be a good team, but I was not sure what we were going to get," Krieger said. "None of them had done it and we've matched expectations. I'm hopeful what it will build, we have some juniors for next year and the growing and experience aspect you can't get without doing it. They've got the opportunity and they've done it. Our goal was to make the playoffs to start the year, and here we are with an opportunity to advance."

Shelton hosts Columbia River today in a game to determine whether they get into the double-elimination District IV boys basketball tournament. Columbia River was 8-12 overall and 8-8 in Greater Saint Helens League games. The Highclimbers are in the same position they were last season, other than this time, they are hosting Columbia River as opposed to going to Vancouver. Shelton won the game last year 50-48 on a Tyler Ireland buzzer-beater.

"They play hard, and they can shoot the ball," Krieger said of Columbia River. "They are a small team, so no height disadvantage. They move the ball and cut well."

If Shelton wins, they will advance to face the No. 1 team from the GSHL in Mark Morris. The Monarchs finished the season 20-1 and were 16-0 in league games. Krieger played against coach Bill Bakamus' Monarchs when he played for Olympia High School, and now he might coach against him.

"They have three players who all average about 20 or more points a game," Krieger said. "Bakamus, I played against him when I was in high school at Olympia. Coaching against him, he's a great coach."