'Cats Remain Perfect In AA With 46-39 Win

SHELTON - Four straight truimphs without setback on the area class AA tournament trail now belong to West Wildcats after last nights 46-39 win over the Shelton Highclimbers.

First half was all Shelton and the 'Climbers looked like sure victors with a 27-17 advantage over the frigid Wildcats.

But the 'Cats, led by senior Les Dicks and junior Dan Shedwin, scored six consecutive field goals at one stretch in the fourth period to leap from a 33-all deadlock to a 12-point lead. Dicks, who finished the game with high total of 11, and Shedwin each had two of the outburst baskets; seniors Fred Kegel and Steve Schumacher one each.

HIGH FOR Shelton was senior forward-center Bill Smith with 10. All his points were garnered in the second period when the 'Climbers prospects were on the ride and Wildcat hopes faded with each missed shot.

Free throw lane was bad place for both teams. West managed to collect on only eight of 24 tries, 33.3 per cent, while Shelton was a little better off with 11 points in a ? number of attempts.

Dicks was rebounding as well as scoring leader for West. He pulled down 14 rebounds, approximately one third of West's total of 43.

Although West had suffered a prolonged cold spell early, Shelton surpassed that frigidity in the second half when the 'Climbers endured 13 and a half minutes with just one field goal. Three free throws in the interim only slightly altered the suddenly one-sided contest.

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SECOND field goal of the second half for Shelton came with two and a half minutes remaining in the game and West beyond reach.

Schumacher scored all nine of his points, second best among the Wildcats, in that second half display of power and defense.

Shedwin, playing what coach Bob Smith called "his best game so far," picked up three personal fouls early and sat out much of the game. However, he was on hand for most of the late West horales until fouling out.

Wildcats ended up with 36.5 per cent from the field despite the poor initial half on the grace of a 13-27 second half showing, almost 50 per cent. 'Climbers were 14-55 for the game, 25.5 percent.

WEST NOW is 4-2 for the season as well as 4-0 on the AA path. Shelton is 1-2 among AA ranks and 1-4 overall.

'Climbers have a non-league date at North Thurston tonight. Next out for West will be hosting Central Kitsap in another AA tilt next Friday.

B Team Game

West (67) - Matlock 4, Gordon 12 Gran 6, Shute 8, Egan 3, Pudas 2, Tobacco 12,  Costello, Watson 2, Chamberlain 18.

Shelton (50) - Wilson, Richards 5, Clary 3, Fredson, Villenes, Brickert 3, Barnes 13, Bailey 8, McNeail, Kelly 16, Carte 2, Wyatt.

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'Cats, Squire Quints Stay In Loop Lead

West's Wildkittens and the East Squires remained knotted atop the County freshmen basketball league standings yesterday as each notched its third victory in four outings.

The three-pronged scoring of Jim White, Walt Harrell and Jack Bailey carried West past Central Kitsap, while Joe Mount hit 11 as the Squires dumped North Kitsap, 41-20.

Results set the stage for next Friday's league action in which West entertains Bainbridge and East players host Marcus Whitman of Port Orchard.

Allen Albertson trailed Mount in East scoring with 16 points during a fray in which all Squires saw action save usual starting guard Butch Miller, suffering from a knee injury and likely out for the season.

West likewise cleared its bench though the scoring was restricted among five players.

West (28) - White 12, Harrell 10, Bailey 10, Green 4, Hoffman 2, Dickerson, Guy, Dahl, Ogg, Costello.

Central Kitsap (17) - Cholds, Nelson, Plum 4, Frander 1, Potier, Longsboro 2, Winger 8, Chaliman Gait, Frasier, Kendal 2.

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East (41) - Pharr 6, Mount 11, Love 4, Albertson 10, Sokolowsky 1 Topness 3,Yeager 3, Nelson 2, Bohlmann, Johnson, McInnis.

NK (20) - Gwartney 2, Stadshaug 3, Olson 6, Mandio 1, Euarri 8, Morrow, Breiland, Johnson