Nighthawks boys start hoops season winless

OAKESDALE - The Oakesdale Nighthawks basketball team opened their 2023-24 season with two home game losses.

They lost their first game to Moses Lake Christian Academy 71-63 on Thursday, Nov. 30, and lost their second consecutive game on back-to-back days, losing 67-54 to Cusick on Friday, Dec. 1.

The game against Moses Lake saw the Nighthawks win the second and fourth quarters, but lost the first and third quarters to have the game tied at 62, forcing the game into overtime.

In the overtime period the Nighthawks would score one point and allow nine to see Oakesdale lose.

In the two quarters the Nighthawks lost, they scored 11 points and eight points. In the quarters the team won, they scored 23 and 20 points.

Oakesdale shot 33% as a team and made six threes in the game. Moses lake shot 50% from the floor and scored 34 points in the paint.

Oakesdale was led by Ryker Reed with 20 points. He went 7/18 from the field and had six rebounds, four assists and six steals.

Emeric Anderson had 14 points for Oakesdale on 4/8 shooting and 6/7 from the free throw line. He also had eight rebounds in the game.

The game against Cusick saw the Nighthawks trail early after scoring just eight points in the first quarter while allowing 19.

Oakesdale would win the third quarter as they scored 17 points and held Cusick to nine, but fell overall 67-54.

As a team, the Nighthawks shot 33% again from the field and made three three-point shots.

Cusick would shoot 42% from the field but made 10 threes in the game for a 37% accuracy.

Once again, Reed led the way for the Nighthawks with 22 points. He went 8/13 from the field and had seven rebounds and six assists.

Anderson had his first double-double of the season for Oakesdale. He finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds in the game.

Will Lanius had nine points, including three made free-throws for Oakesdale.

The next game for the Nighthawks boys will be Friday, Dec. 8, as they host district opponent Garfield-Palouse Vikings.Tip off is at 7:30 p.m