HS Girls Hoops: WF West eases past Napavine in OT

12/12/2025

WF West 56, Napavine 50 (OT)

(Chehalis, WA) The Bearcats were set to host a double header Friday night with the girls tipping off at 5:30 against Seton Catholic and the boys vs LaCenter 7p. Then Seton Catholic called WF West Tommy Elder Friday morning informing him they would not be able to play due to a shortage of varsity players. Elder quickly looked for a replacement and contacted Josh Fay and Shane Schutz at Napavine to see if they wanted to play and the Tigers said yes.

This despite playing Wednesday and Thursday nights but perhaps the Tigers 65-19 and 56-13 victory’s didn’t take much out them. The Tigers were looking to extend the Central 2B league’s 3-0 win streak over the EVCO 2a this pre-season.

Napavine came in with a 3-1 record dropping only to 1A King’s with wins over Raymond-South Bend, Tumwater and Montesano.

WF West came in with a 2-2 record and the Bearcats are again the target of the rest of the EVCO league. WF West seeking tough situations in their non-league games rolled both Woodland and Washougal. Then traveled east to Clarkston last Friday where they lost to the Bantams 84-56. The Cats then traveled halfway home and faced Selah on Saturday and dropped a tight one 63-60.

When the jump ball was tossed up the Napavine Tigers took control and led early but by the 2nd half of the 1st quarter the Bearcats got in a groove and took an 11-10 lead after the 1st quarter.

The Bearcats momentum continued as they popped in 22 points to just 9 for Napavine and led 32-19 at the break. 6 players were in the scorebook for WF West with both Joy Cushman and Kaitlyn Chloupek leading with 8. Hayden Kaut had 10 to lead all scorers at the break.

In the 3rd quarter, Napavine got energized and flipped the script chewing up the points and surging to the lead 40-34 scoring 19 and holding the Bearcats to just 2.

As the 4th quarter began the Tigers stretched their lead to 47-38 and looked like the Central 2B was going to record another win over the EVCO 2a. But then they got stuck. The Tigers went cold and plenty of time for the Bearcats to make up ground and that’s what they did.

With less then 3 minutes to play it was still a 47-45 lead for Napavine when Dilyn Boeck broke free and got inside for a lay-up to tie the game. The defenses would take over and it would be a push to the end of regulation forcing overtime.

The Bearcats struck first on a 3 pointer from Joy Cushman. The Tigers would tie it when Taylen Evander hit from the top of the key to make it 50-50. WF West struck right back and again it was Boeck who was dialed in. Moments later Cushman iced the game with another trey and the Bearcats took the win 56-50 in OT.

The Thorbeckes MVP of the game went to Dilyn Boeck with the game tying shot to force OT and ultimately the game winner finishing with 15 points.

Leading WF West was Joy Cushman with 16, Kaitlyn Chloupek added 13, while finishing with 4 were Izzy Teeter, Caroline BuzzMallory Gaskill.

Hayden Kaut led all scoeres with 23 for Napavine, Taylen Evander had 11 and also in double figures was Nicholle Valentine with 10. Ava Ondong, Clara Fay and Sophia Bittner each had 2.

WF West is now 3-2 on the year and travels to Prairie on Monday. Napavine drops to 3-2 and is off until next Friday when they host Okanogan.

Link to watch full game replay on the NFHS Network (subscription required)