HS Hoops: T-Birds sweep homecourt doubleheader against Black Hills

1/13/2026

(Tumwater, WA) The Black Hills Wolves were the visitors of the first crosstown rivalry showdown of the season. The girls went first with the visiting Wolves with a 7-6 overall record and 0-2 in league play. The hosts T-Birds came in even on the year at 6-6 and 1-1 in EVCO 2A play.

Our coverage of each game is below with the girls up first followed by the boys game. We have a game re-cap, our video postgame show, MVP’s of each game, scoring stats and video highlights.

Girls Game

Tumwater 60, Black Hills 59 (OT)

It wasn’t the prettiest of games and after a 9-5 1st quarter with Black Hills leading we didn’t expect a 60-59 final. The officials whistles were out in force with a total of 46 fouls called, 24 on Tumwater and 22 against Black Hills and amazingly only 2 players fouled out, one for each team. Both teams also went to the free throw line an even 36 times each for 72 freebies.

Free throw shooting was a big factor and kept Black Hills in the game while limiting Tumwater from running away with the win. Black Hills went 29 for 36 from the line finishing with an 81% rate at the line. They were at one point 13 of 14 or 94% and later 25 of 28 for 90%.

Meantime, the T-Birds struggled at the line mightily going only 16 for 36 or just 44%. If they went just 60% they would have won in regulation and not had to go the extra 4 minutes. That shows the tenacity of the T-Birds to overcome leaving 20 free points on the floor and yet somehow pulled off the win.

Getting back to the game the 2nd quarter was better but still it was just 23-18 with the Wolves holding the lead. The T-Birds made their move in the 3rd quarter draining 22 points and holding Black Hills to just 14 and taking their first lead in the game up 40-37 after 3 quarters.

Both teams had their chances in the 4th quarter. Black Hills missed 4 of the 7 free throws on the night late in the game. Tumwater continued to miss the freebies. Each team had shots that just wouldn’t go in and they ended up in a 53-53 tie after 32 minutes. This forced another 4 minutes of Overtime.

This is where freshman Malia Eggers took over for Tumwater. Eggers had 8 points going into OT and scored all 7 of the T-Birds points finishing with a team high 15 points as the T-Birds withheld the challenge of the Wolves.

Natalie Buchanan and Tyler Venable were incredible for Black Hills with Buchanan sinking a game high 24 points and Venable right behind with 23. Buchanan added 10 rebounds for a double-double.

Tumwater spread their scoring out with 7 players scoring led by Eggers. Anden Damaris was next with 13 and 8 rebounds just missing her own double-double. Kamryn Wilson also hit double figures with 11 points.

Standings and what’s next?

The T-Birds improve to 2-1 in EVCO 2A play and 7-6 for the season. Tumwater next faces Aberdeen at home on Friday. Black Hills drops to 0-3 in conference play and 7-7 overall. The Wolves will look to bounce back on Friday at Centralia.

Thorbeckes MVP

The Thorbeckes MVP award always goes to the winning team and Malia Eggers, the freshman, tookover the OT period to score all the Tumwater points and earned the MVP award for coming through when it counted most. Anden Demaris was just nosed out flor the award as Demaris’s consistency was huge in this game for the T-Birds.

Scoring Stats
Tumwater: Malia Eggers 15, Anden Damaris 13, Kamryn Wilson 11, Claire Buono 7, Reece Brewer 7, Maesyn Williams 4, Raygen Cooper 3
Black Hills: Natalie Buchanan 24, Tyler Venable 23, Ellie Johnson 6, Haley McMahon 4, Taylor Morrison 2

Click on this link for a full game replay on the NFHS Network (subscription required)

ESN Postgame Show

Video Highlights

Black Hills hits in the 2nd to break a scoring slump

T-Birds surge back to take the lead late in the 3rd GBB

Tumwater’s Malia Eggers takes over the OT period

Boys Game

Tumwater 58, Black Hills 52

The Black Hills Wolves began the game with a ton of energy and were running the court keeping Tumwater off balance and claimed an 18-12 lead after the first 8 minutes. Quinton and Talon Morrill along with James Morgan were flying high and pressuring the T-Birds defense forcing mistakes that they took advantage of with multiple fast break chances.

Tumwater’s coach Josh Wilson knew he had to slow down the attack of the Wolves into a manageable situation so he went to the zone defense and it paid immediate results. The T-Birds were meeting the Wolves in front at the 3 point line instead of chasing and held Black Hills to just 9 2nd quarter points, half as many as they scored in the 1st.

Meantime, the T-Bird offense was starting to get cranked up with Luke Overbay and Braiden Konrad in the paint while Julien Balsley and Ethan Bello were attacking from the perimeter. The T-Birds hit for 15 including 2 long balls from Balsley, Konrad hit a 3 and led with 10 points, Overbay had 7 at the break and Tumwater had some momentum going into halftime.

In the 3rd quarter Balsley hit his 3rd 3 in a row early to tie the game at 30. Tumwater’s defense held up again as the offense remained consistent and the T-Birds outscored the Wolves 16-11 for a 43-38 lead after 3 quarters.

The question was could the Wolves recapture that 1st quarter magic? It looked like maybe yes when Kona Bell drained a 3 to give the Wolves a 46-45 lead but it would be short lived. Tumwater would continue to be consistent on the offensive end with another 15 points. The Wolves were beginning to solve the zone defense and closed the gap including that short lead for a moment.

The big shot of the game came from Landon Anchors who drained a huge 3 ball pushing the lead to 54-50 and that would ultimately be the fatal blow. Black Hills simply ran out of gas and could not turn it back around taking the loss.

Tumwater’s Julien Balsley led the T-Birds with 15, Konrad had 12, Anchors 11 and Overbay just missed a double-double with 9 points and 10 rebounds.

Black Hills got 16 from Morgan, 12 from Quinton Morrill, 11 by Peyton Faught and 10 from Talon Morrill.

The T-Birds out-rebounded the Wolves 23-12.

Standings and what’s next?

The T-Birds are now 3-0 in EVCO 2A play tied with Aberdeen atop the standings and 10-1 overall. Tumwater will next showdown with Aberdeen on the Bobcats home floor on Thursday.

Black Hills drops to 2-1 in league play and 9-4 for the season. The Wolves will look to bounce back on Thursday at home against Centralia and they will get their chance against Aberdeen next Tuesday in the Wolf Den.

Thorbeckes MVP

The Thorbeckes MVP of the game had several candidates inluding Braedon Konrad, Landon Anchors and Luke Overbay but Julien Balsley stood out to us in this game. Hitting big shots from the outside early and then attacking the rack to get some inside points and steady defense was enough for us to give the MVP to Julien.

Scoring Stats

Tumwater: Julien Balsley 15, Braedon Konrad 12, Landon Anchors 11, Luke Overbay 9, Ethan Bello 6, Tyler Johnson 2, Jake Reid 2
Black Hills: James Morgan 16, Quinton Morrill 12, Peyton Faught 11, Talon Morrill 10, Kona Bell 3

Click on this link for a full game replay on the NFHS Network (subscription required)

ESN Postgame Show