Thomas scores 32 points for White River Hornets stay positive, hungry for league victory

Usually, when a high school boys basketball team starts out its campaign 0-5, it’s because the team is terrible. Such is not the case with the White River boys, though, who have had just about everything possible go wrong in the season’s early going.

Usually, when a high school boys basketball team starts out its campaign 0-5, it’s because the team is terrible. Such is not the case with the White River boys, though, who have had just about everything possible go wrong in the season’s early going.

“Despite the inopportune things that seem to be happening, the guys are remaining positive and keeping an upbeat attitude,” coach Bill Hawk said after a tough Peninsula group beat White River 66-54 Dec. 9.

Friday, the Hornets hosted a cat-quick, defensive-minded Clover Park squad that forced 25 turnovers en route to a 76-65 unraveling of White River. In that contest, the Hornets were without the services of junior point guard Chad Sayler, who reliably brings the ball up the floor for the maroon and gold.

Saturday at Auburn Mountainview, the Hornet hoopsters were in command throughout most of the contest and led at intermission 36-27. The Lions managed to push the affair into overtime and win 67-64, despite senior transfer Kenneth Thomas filling up the hoop with 32 points for the Hornets.

White River was searching for its initial conquest last night when it hosted unbeaten Lakes, with the results of that contest coming too late to report here. The Hornets will play their final engagement before the holiday break at 7 p.m. Friday when they travel to Franklin Pierce.

Reach John Leggett at jleggett@courierherald.com or 360-802-8207.