ROYAL CITY – A late second-quarter run helped build separation between the home Knights and visiting Wahluke Warriors on Tuesday night, who led 32-13 at halftime before winning the game 70-39. 

It’s the first of three games for Royal this week; the Knights host Cashmere on Friday and Naches Valley on Saturday. 

“Most of our boys like three games in a week,” Royal head coach Greg Jenks said. “We’ve had the last two Tuesdays off, so it’s fun to play. We still got one practice in, so it was nice to play today.” 

Wahluke cut the Royal lead to 16-11 early in the second quarter, but the Knights closed out the first half on a 16-2 run to build the lead to double digits going into the halftime locker room. 

“It was kind of our mantra of defend, rebound, run – we were able to defend, clear it up after one shot and then get down the floor so they couldn’t set up that zone defense that they had going,” Jenks said.  

Sophomore Grant Wardenaar shared a similar sentiment. 

“When we get on to our fast break, that’s when we’re able to build big leads,” he said. 

During the scoring run, sophomore Manny Ruvalcaba connected on two three-pointers. 

“Grant (Wardenaar) and Dax Jenks, they just drive and look for that kick, and I’m over there on the wing and knocked them down,” Ruvalcaba said. 

There were many familiar faces on the court for Ruvalcaba, who attended Wahluke last year. As a freshman, he was second-team all-league in the South Central Athletic Conference (East). 

“It was kind of fun, seeing my old teammates and talking to them during the game,” Ruvalcaba said.  

The Knights maintained a consistent 20-point lead throughout the third quarter before stretching the lead to nearly 30 points in the fourth quarter, aided by 11 fourth-quarter points from Wardenaar. He finished the game with a team-high 24 points.  

Ruvalcaba scored 11 points in the win, followed by senior Lance Allred with 10 points. 

“My teammates were just getting me the ball,” Wardenaar said. “I can’t take any credit; I’m getting set screens, and they’re passing it to me. They make it pretty easy for me.” 

Wahluke freshman Kobe Corrales led the Warriors with 22 points Tuesday night. 

Focuses on rebounding and limiting second-chance baskets for the Warriors was key in the win, Jenks said. 

“We’re a really good defensive team when the other team only gets one shot per possession,” Jenks said.  

Royal completed the regular season sweep of Wahluke on Tuesday night, having already defeated the Warriors 78-39 on Dec. 20 in Mattawa. 

“Down at their place, we fouled a lot early and it got them into shooting free throws,” Jenks said. “We were able to clean that up and do that a lot better.” 

Royal has now won four games since losing its first game of the season, an 86-78 loss in overtime at Zillah; the Knights have since defeated Chelan 68-35 on Jan. 18, Connell 83-40 on Friday, Wapato 65-55 on Saturday and Wahluke on Tuesday. 

“We were feeling pretty good,” Wardenaar said. “Coming off the Zillah game, that game kind of motivated us. We’re just trying to get better every single day.” 

The Knights close out the regular season with four games in seven days; at home against Cashmere on Friday, Naches Valley on Saturday and Kiona-Benton on Tuesday before traveling to College Place on Feb. 7 for the regular season finale. 

Wahluke has upcoming games against Wapato on Friday at home, Connell on Saturday on the road and College Place at home Tuesday. 

With the win, Royal improved to 16-1 overall and 11-1 in the SCAC, a game back of Zillah (14-3, 12-1 SCAC) for the top spot in the league. Wahluke fell to 7-11 overall and 5-8 in the league, tied with Kiona-Benton for fifth in the standings. 

Box score 

WAH: 9-4-13-13 39
RYL: 14-18-18-20 70 

    Wahluke freshman Kobe Corrales (24) led the Warriors with 22 points in Tuesday’s game against Royal.
  

    Wahluke senior Diego Perez (4) brings the ball up the floor against Royal on Tuesday night.