Hockinson's Jack Klodt drives against Mark Morris' Cameron Mosier during the second half Thursday.
HOCKINSON — In winning 13 consecutive league titles, Mark Morris has ruled the roost atop the Class 2A Greater St. Helens League.
Thursday, Hockinson showed it can dethrone the Monarchs.
The Hawks opened league play with a scrappy 43-36 win over Mark Morris in a clash of teams ranked in the Associated Press 2A state poll.
The No. 5-ranked Hawks, which shared the 2010-11 league title with Mark Morris, forced 13 turnovers and didn’t back down from the physical play of No. 7 Mark Morris, which has won 13 consecutive league titles, including the last seven in the 2A GSHL.
“We aren’t the tallest or the longest, but I do feel that we’re tough,” Hockinson coach Trevor Person said.
Hockinson is also experienced. Nine seniors on the roster showed composure at several moments Thursday.
They kept their nerve during a fast-paced first half in which neither team opened a sizable lead.
They had the poise to end the third quarter on a 10-2 run, opening a 37-29 lead.
They had the toughness to hold onto that lead despite making just one field goal in the fourth quarter.
Leading 39-36, senior Nate Gunderson took a charge with 16 seconds to play. Hockinson then hit free throws to ice the game.
“We don’t get frazzled when we get in those situations,” said senior guard Alan Haagen. “We knew it would be a game of runs. We’ve got to know they’re going to make their runs, but we’re going to make ours too.”
Coaches talk often of having a complete team effort. Hockinson showed Thursday how that’s done. Eight players scored, though none were in double figures. Taylor Ellensohn led the Hawks with nine points. Haagen and Austin Steimle each had seven.
To be fair to Mark Morris, the Monarchs’ in-your-chest defense played a role in keeping any Hockinson scorer from finding a groove.
“They’re strong defensively and pushed us off what we wanted to do,” Person said. “It wasn’t the prettiest, but it’s league play now and it’s time to grind it out.”
And Thursday, Hockinson took a step toward grinding out a perch atop the league.
HOCKINSON 43, MARK MORRIS 36
MARK MORRIS –Hayden Tapani 0, Cameron Mosier 1, Evan Troy 6, Grant Gibb 15, Keigan Baker 4, Jared Bartleson 8, Geordi Morrow 2. Totals 14 (1) 6-10 36.
HOCKINSON — Taylor Rennaker 0, Nate Gunderson 2, Jack Klodt 6, Alan Haagen 7, Jared Broer 2, Austin Steimle 7, Taylor Ellensohn 9, Littleton Davidson 6, Jess Krahn 4. Totals 15 (5) 8-15 43.
M.Morris 11 7 11 7–36
Hockinson 12 9 16 6–43
JV — Hockinson 54-50, OT
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