Basketball Game Preview: Willapa Valley Vikings vs. Pe Ell Trojans

Willapa Valley is 9-1 against Pe Ell since May of 2021 and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Saturday. The Willapa Valley Vikings will be playing at home against the Pe Ell Trojans at 5:30 p.m. Willapa Valley is coming into the contest hot, having won their last 12 games.

Last Wednesday, Willapa Valley was able to grind out a solid victory over Morton/White Pass, taking the game 68-58. Given the Vikings' advantage in MaxPreps' Washington basketball rankings (they are ranked 126th, while the Timberwolves are ranked 314th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.

Willapa Valley got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was Nathan Fluke out in front who dropped a double-double on 16 points and 12 rebounds. That's the most boards Fluke has posted since back in January of 2024. Another player making a difference was Brody Aust, who dropped a double-double on 20 points and 11 rebounds.

Meanwhile, Pe Ell took their match on Thursday with ease, bagging a 53-21 victory over Washington School for the Deaf.

Willapa Valley's win was their ninth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 12-2. As for Pe Ell, the victory got them back to even at 8-8.

Everything went Willapa Valley's way against Pe Ell when the teams last played back in December of 2024, as Willapa Valley made off with a 56-30 win. In that game, Willapa Valley amassed a halftime lead of 33-5, an impressive feat they'll look to repeat on Saturday.