HS Boys Hoops: White River outlasts Tumwater in shooting contest

1/4/2025

White River 80, Tumwater 75

(Tumwater, WA) The White River Hornets came into this non-league match-up with an 8-3 record and averaging 77 points a game while the host Tumwater T-Birds were just 5-1 and scoring 66 points per game. We expected and received an offensive heavy game from both teams.

The 1st half looked to be Tumwater’s as they built a double digit lead early in the 1st quarter behind the sharpshooting of senior guard Jake Dillon who hit 3 straight 3 balls to begin the game. But the Hornets were just trying to get their feet under them and with less than 3 minutes to play in the 1st quarter rallied from a 16-8 deficit to a 19-17 lead by the time the buzzer sounded.

The 2 teams played pretty even through the 2nd quarter with White River holding a 3 point, 40-37 lead at the break. The Hornets spread around the scoring with 8 in the book led by Blake Caldwell with 10 and 9 from Ray Palmer. The T-Birds Dillon had 13 and Sahara Anthony III also hit double figs with 10.

In the 2nd half, it was White River running off to a double digit lead early in the 3rd quarter only to see Tumwater replicate what the Hornets did in the 1st quarter and came back in the 3rd trailing by 3, 60-57, a 20 point quarter for both sides.

As the game entered the 4th both would find their runs as the frantic up and down pace began to take it’s toll with plenty of fouls being called. A lot of reaching and offensive fouls that can occur when both teams have settled into a track meet. The T-birds would tie the game at 65 but White River would finish with strong free throw shooting to clinch the win 80-75.

The Hornets went 26-33 at the line hitting 79% while the T-Birds were 12-18 or 67%. Both teams splashed down from the outside as well with the T-birds hitting 9 from 3 players and the Hornets with 10 from 5 different shooters. Dillon finsished with 6 behind the arc and Landon Anchors had a pair of deep shots. White River’s Senon had 4 and Caldwell had 2.

Logan Senon led all scorers with 22 for the Hornets hitting 4 3-pointers and 8 of 9 from the line. Greg Schmitz had a huge 2nd half scoring 16 of his 19 points and was integral in the paint with rebounding and defense.

Beckett Wall overcame early foul trouble and kept the T-Birds in the game scoring 11 of his 13 in the 2nd half and Luke Overbay had solid play with a half dozen 2nd half points including a 2 handed flush.

White River improves to 9-3 overall while Tumwater drops to 5-2. Our Thorbeckes MVP came down to the best 2nd half and the very slight edge went to Greg Schmitz over Logan Senon. We also considered Blake Caldwell and Ray Palmer but we thought Schmitz was just a bit better overall in helping the Hornets win.

Scoring

White River: Logan Senon 22, Greg Schmitz 19, Blake Caldwell 14, Ray Palmer 11, Ben Berg 5, Jacob Scheidt 5, Jordan Goethals 2, Zach Wisdom 2
Tumwater: Jake Dillon 21, Sahara Anthony III 16, Becket Wall 13, Bryce Moran 7, Luke Overbay 6, Landon Anchors 6, Braedon Konrad 4, Josh Schlect 2

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

ESN Postgame Show