Preview: Willapa Valley Vikings vs. Pe Ell Trojans
Willapa Valley has enjoyed a two-game homestand but will soon have to dust off their road jerseys. They will challenge the Pe Ell Trojans at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Hopefully Willapa Valley focused on turnovers this week since the team gave up 18 on Thursday.
Last Thursday, even if it wasn't a dominant performance, Willapa Valley beat Columbia Adventist Academy 57-52.
Willapa Valley's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Nathan Fluke, who scored 21 points along with six assists and two steals. Fluke also posted two blocks for the first time this season. The team also got some help courtesy of Brody Ritzman, who dropped a double-double on 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Meanwhile, Pe Ell's recent rough patch got a bit rougher on Tuesday after their sixth straight loss. They took a 41-35 hit to the loss column at the hands of Columbia Adventist Academy. The defeat unfortunately continues a disappointing trend for Pe Ell in their matchups with Columbia Adventist Academy: they've now lost five in a row.
The win got Willapa Valley back to even at 7-7. As for Pe Ell, they bumped their record down to 3-10 with that loss, which was their third straight at home.
Willapa Valley beat Pe Ell 57-44 when the teams last played back in December of 2023. The rematch might be a little tougher for Willapa Valley since the squad won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
