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MABTON–The Dayton-Waitsburg Wolfpack dropped both of the 2021-22 basketball season's opening weekend by nearly identical scores, faltering after a tight first half to White Swan 55-36 then traveling to Mabton for a 55-34 loss.
DW played Oakesdale Tuesday (results next week) and visits Goldendale December 10 before hosting Granger on Saturday, December 11.
Opening the new season on its home court at Waitsburg, the Wolfpack battled to an 11-10 Cougar advantage after the first quarter, and led 19-16 at the halftime break.
But the Cougars busted out with 18 third-quarter points while DW struggled and scored only four to get the distance to roll to the 55-36 win.
Ruben Yutzy, the Wolfpack's 6-0 sophomore, topped DW's scoring with 12, with Blake French, a 6-3 sophomore, scoring 7.
At Mabton on December 4, the Wolfpack had no answer for Mabton's Andrew McCallum, Sam Vazquez and Jesus Carreon, who scorched the nets in the first quarter, and Johnathan Lopez with eight second-quarter points to easily outpace DW.
Wolfpack's French caught fire in the fourth quarter to top DW scoring with 12, 10 in the final stanza and four from the free throw line.
Ryland Kilts and Monte Pettichord each scored eight. Kilts drained a three and added two field goals in the third quarter and Pettichord was a steady threat, only being blanked in the third quarter.
DW v White Swan (12-3)
DW 10 9 4 13-36
WS 11 5 18 20-55
DW (36) Ryland Kilts 2, Monte Pettichord 6, Ruben Yutzy 12, Blake French 7, Jasper Morrow 5, Wyaitt Booth 4. Free throws: 8/23-35%.
WS (55) Dion R. 7, Karper G. 3, Roger V. 17, Ethan H. 5, Tristan R. 7, Talou H. 8, Spence L. 2, Jeffry B. 2, Willie D. 4. Free throws: 12/19-63%.
DW v Mabton (12-4)
DW 5 5 10 14-34
Mab 19 10 18 8-55
DW (34) Ryland Kilts 8, Logan Potter 1, Monte Pettichord 8, Blake French 12, Wyaitt Booth 4, Nolan Korslund 1. Free throws: 11/25-44%.
Mabton 55) V. Chavez 7, S. Valquez 5, A. McCallum 9, J. Carreon 10, A. Zavala 4, M. Espinoza 8, J. Lopez 12. Free throws: 8/13-63%.