CHEHALIS — This is why they play the games.
The Neah Bay girls basketball team’s season came to a sudden end with a 48-40 loss to Taholah in the regional round of the Class 1B state playoffs at W.F. West High School.
The defeat ended a remarkable run of nine consecutive state tournament appearances for the Red Devils.
It came against a Taholah team Neah Bay (14-7) dominated 69-43 in an early season nonleague contest.
Tough man-to-man defense on the Red Devils’ shooters resulted in a dismal 14 of 54 performance from the field, including 3 of 20 from beyond the 3-point arc.
Neah Bay also struggled when its players weren’t guarded, as the Red Devils connected on just 9 of 28 from the free-throw line.
Tristin Johnson led all scorers with 13 points for Neah Bay on 5 of 16 shooting from the floor. She added six rebounds and three steals.
Cei’J Gagnon added seven points and four rebounds.
Vonte Aguirre led the Red Devils in rebounding with 13. She added four steals and six points.
Neah Bay’s lone senior, Holly Greene, had eight rebounds and five points.
Her sister, sophomore Jessica Greene, scored five points, grabbed five rebounds and nabbed four steals.
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Compiled using team reports.
