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The Raiders split at the Tonasket Holiday Tournament Dec. 27-28 to take home third place, then defeated Waterville Jan. 4 to go 2-1 on the holiday break.

With the wins the Raiders improve to .500 on the season, 4-4 overall.

This week marks the start of Central Washington 2B League play, and with no clear frontrunner, the league title is up for grabs.

At Tonasket the Raiders rematched a Tiger squad that had beat them by 24 points Dec. 10. The game was close all the way through, with Tonasket leading just 20-17 at the half and never by more than six points. In fourth, the Tigers held off a Raider comeback to win 53-50.

Chance Garvin had a big night, scoring 29 points against the Tigers.

“We improved a great amount, and it was most evident when we played Tonasket our first game,” Raider Head Coach Matt Simpson said.

What clinched the game for the Tigers was the 9-for-23 Raider free-throw shooting.

In the 3rd/4th game the Raiders went up against the 1A Okanogan JV. The Bulldogs played hard and the halftime score was tied at 29.

“We made a decision to playing more aggressively in the second half and scratch the first,” Simpson said, “and we did just that.”

In the second half, the Raiders outscored and out rebounded the Bulldogs, which lead to a Raider victory, 67-57.

The Raiders finished the game against the Bulldogs with 44 rebounds, 17 deflections and 13 steals. The Raiders shot 63 percent at the line, a big improvement from the night before against the Tigers.

“Merle Picard was the MVP in this game with 8 points, 6 boards, 4 steals, 7 deflections a really great all around game,” Simpson said.

Coach Simpson when asked about where the team is at after the tournament said,

“We have really begun to turn a corner and are really learning how to play,” Simpson said, reflecting on the tournament, “what our mentality needs to be, and how to prepare ourselves both before the game and during.”

At Waterville Jan. 4, the Raiders faced a determined Shocker team who led at halftime by six. The Raiders again made adjustments to come back from halftime to win 59-52.

Chance Garvin scored 23 points, grabbed six rebounds and nabbed four steals against the Shockers. Jacob Palmer scored six points and had six rebounds.

This Saturday the Raiders host the Entiat Tigers at Gailord Nelson Gym.

The JV girls play first at 1 p.m., followed by the JV boys at 2:30. Varsity boys tip off at 4 p.m. All games will be played at Lake Roosevelt High School’s gym.

Tonasket:

Garvin 29, Rosenbaum 9, Palmer 1, Picard 8, Black 2.

Rebound Leaders: Garvin 8, Palmer 6

Okanogan JV:

K. Davis 8, Garvin 16, Rosenbaum 8, Picard 8, W. Davis 11, Redstar 5, Nicholson 6, Black 3, Nault 2

Rebounding Leaders: Garvin 14, Picard 6.

Waterville:

Garvin 23, Palmer 6, Redstar 8, Nault 0, Black 3, Picard 11

Rebounding Leaders: Garvin 6, Palmer 6, Redstar 3, Nault 3, Black 2, Picard 2

Steals Leaders: Garvin 4, Redstar 3, Nault 1, Picard 2