Walczak Puts Up Back to Back 20 point Efforts

Ashley Walczak put up back to back 20 point games to lead the second ranked Santiam Wolverines to a pair of Tri River league wins. The Wolverines needed almost every one of those points to hold off a furious second half Kennedy comeback Tuesday in Mt. Angel, holding on for a 40-37 win.

Returning home Friday, the Santiam doubled the score on East Linn Christian of Lebanon, cruising to a 62-31 victory over the Eagles.

Santiam held Kennedy to only two opening quarter points, and six total in the first half, but opened only an 11 point, 17-6 lead, as offense was at a premium. That all changed in the second half, as the Trojans exploded for 16 points. But the Wolverines stepped things up offensively as well, and still held a ten point, 32-22 lead heading to the final period.

Santiam couldn’t keep up with another 15 point period by Kennedy, but had enough of a lead to freeze out the clock. The Wolverines’ four point advantage at the free throw line effectively made the difference in the game.

Walczak matched Kennedy’s three long range baskets with three of her own, easily making her the player of the game, and the high scorer. Kennedy’s Kylee Eder was the only other player in double figures, finishing with ten.

Back home against East Linn on Friday, Walczak hit another pair of threes, on her way to another game high point total. This time, she had ample support, as Heidi Halemeier had a double double, scoring 16 points and pulling down 13 rebounds, and Kara Stair also put eleven points on the board. Only Hannah Whitehead was able to reach double digits against the Wolverine defenses, second best in 2A, leading the Eagles with ten points.

East Linn saw their skid extend to three games, having lost 52-46 to Scio earlier in the week.

Santiam (10-0, 3-0) faces four Tri River games in six days this week, as the make up games from the difficult December weather pile up.

Box Scores

Santiam            8  9  15   8  -  40

Kennedy            2  4  16 15  -  37

Santiam - Ashley Walczak 20, Jessica Sexton 9, Heidi Halemeier 8, J.J. Halemeier 1, Kara Stair 2, Ashley Whisenhunt, Crystal Flores. 3s – Walczak (3). FTs - 11-15 (73 %).

Kennedy — Kylee Eder 10, Brooke Jaeger 8, Brenda Dye 6, Morgan Geddes 6, Chelsea Whirledge 3, Jessica Regimbal 3, Bridget Donohue 2, Marissa Donohue, Kenda Wavra. 3s – Regimbal, Whirledge, Jaeger. FTs - 7-12 (58 %).

East Linn           5    8    8   10  -  31

Santiam                        16  18  18   10  -  62

East Linn – Hannah Whitehead 10, Bates 7, Garber 4, Shull 4, Messmer 4, Koos 2, Roth.

Santiam – Ashley Walczak 20, Heidi Halemeier 16, Kara Stair 11, J.J. Halemeier 8, Jessica Sexton 3, Ashley Whisenhut 2, Krystal Flores 2, Taylor Gonzales, Lacie Prindel.

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