Cheesemakers get first league win

The Tillamook High School boys’ basketball team got its first league victory of the season on February 13, defeating the St. Helens Lions 50-42 at home.

Griffyn Boomer led the way for the Mooks with 15 points, while Tanner Hoskins chipped in 11, as Tillamook pulled away in the homestretch of a close game and held on for victory.

The game was tight in the opening minutes and halfway through the first quarter Tillamook trailed 4-3 as they struggled to find their range from the field, notching all three from the line. Andrew White sank a three moments later to give the Cheesemakers a lead before the Lions tied the game at 6. The teams’ offenses sputtered after that but a late layup and three from St. Helens gave the Lions a 13-8 lead after one.

Both offenses remained cold as the second quarter began and with four minutes remaining in the half Tillamook trailed 18-13. The Mooks took advantage of a series of turnovers between one and two minutes left in the half to cut the lead to three, where it stood at the half with the score 22-19.

Andrew White tied the game with a three pointer on the Cheesemakers’ first possession of the second half and the Mooks took their first lead of the game on a Boomer three the next time down the court. St. Helens tied the game again at 25 moments later and the score was knotted at 27 halfway through the quarter. After more than a minute with both teams scoreless, White hit another three to put the Cheesemakers back on top and the Mooks held the narrow 35-32 advantage heading into the final quarter.

The Mooks were aggressive as the fourth quarter got under way and quickly stretched their lead to eight as Boomer scored four. St. Helens battled back, scoring five straight to cut the lead to 42-39 with four minutes to go and tying the game with a three moments later. Tillamook responded with a basket of its own and pushed the lead back to six with back-to-back Boomer steals leading to easy layups. From there the Mooks held on as White hit two free throws to give the Cheesemakers the 50-42 victory.

With the victory, Tillamook improved to 3-17 on the season and 1-9 in Cowapa league play ahead of their final two games of the season in Seaside on February 16, and in Scappoose on February 20.