Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009

Hanford boys beat rival Richland 55-46 (w/ video)

By Jack Millikin, Herald staff writer

RICHLAND -- Kody Winsor is all about football.

Hanford's bruising 6-foot-2 senior, a two-way player at running back and linebacker, anchored the Falcons to six wins on the gridiron this year.

But he got a rush of a different kind Friday during a 55-46 win over visiting Richland, giving Hanford (5-8, 1-6) its first Cascade Division victory this season and first in seven games.

Despite finishing with just four points, Winsor was a stabilizing influence over the final four minutes of the game, drawing a clutch charge against Richland guard Jamison Rowe, calling a quick timeout to avoid a turnover and dishing out a picture-perfect bounce pass to Pete Zachara to maintain what had become a shaky lead against the hard-charging Bombers (9-5, 4-3).

"I'll tell you, it felt better than any football win we had," Winsor said. "We wanted to show no fear, rebound and play tough. We just came out not scared."

Winsor also bodied up on Richland's Calvin Douglas, holding the 6-foot-6 forward to just 1-of-8 shooting in the first half with three rebounds, while Hanford built a 30-13 lead after two quarters.

Douglas settled down in the second half, finishing with a team-high 14 points and 10 rebounds, but the sophomore shot just 6-of-16.

"This was a great win for us," said Falcons coach Paul Mayer. "We lost a lot of close games like this last year. Tonight, we made a couple switches that worked for us.

"(Kody) is a guy who didn't play his sophomore or junior year, although I wish he had. He only cares about the team. He doesn't always start, but he hasn't complained a bit."

Hanford came out on a torrid shooting pace, hitting 8-of-12 shots in the first quarter, and began building momentum on the offensive end. Zachara got the Falcons rolling, scoring eight points during a 14-0 run to end the first quarter. Josh Bond added the first of two 3-pointers on the night.

Zachara finished with a game-high 20 points.

"We only shot 28 percent in our last couple games, but we've been shooting really well in practice," said Zachara, who went 3-for-5 from beyond the arc.

Richland made a game of it, rallying back to within six points after Brett Jacobs drove the lane for a bucket and the Bombers trailed 48-42.

The Falcons missed on their next possession, and Douglas sent the outlet pass upcourt for a chance to cut the lead to four.

Rowe made a strong drive down the right side of the lane and watched his layin trickle into the net as Winsor fell to the ground below him. But Rowe's jaw dropped when the referees called a charge.

He wasn't the only one who was surprised.

"When (the ref) first blew the whistle, I thought, 'Oh no, that's my fifth foul,' " Winsor said. "I saw him call the charge, and it took me by surprise."

Bombers coach Earl Streufert was rather unhappy with the call, but he did manage to put the loss in perspective.

"(Hanford) played with great emotion, and we didn't match it," Streufert said. "Even when we did make plays, they made smart shots.

"I thought we were more aggressive and confident in the second half, but we let some shots get away from us."

RICHLAND (46)

Jacobs 13, Rowe 7, Dunford 6, Smith 4, Calvin Douglas 14, McCargar, Dunn, Hilty 2, Gallinger, Vedder. Totals 19-65 6-17 46.

HANFORD (55)

K.Wagar 14, C.Wagar, Pete Zachara 20, Bland 12, Winsor 4, Matta, Hodgson 5, Manderbach, Friesz, Rueter, Bowser, Haynes. Totals 17-40 16-25 55.

Richland 5 8 16 17 -- 46

Hanford 20 10 9 16 -- 55

Highlights -- Zachara 3x5 3-ptrs, 7 rebs; Josh Bland 10 rebs; Douglas 10 rebs; Clint Smith 9 rebs; Rich 47 rebs, Han 35.