TUMWATER — Following a 5-0 start to the 2025-26 campaign, the Black Hills Wolves fell back to earth rapidly against upstart Toutle Lake Wednesday night.
Despite being two classifications higher than the Ducks, Black Hills hadn’t yet seen a team of Toutle Lake’s caliber this season.
The Wolves could not keep up with the speed of the Ducks offense, which tallied the first 20 points of the evening en route to a 64-43 rout in Tumwater. Kendal Dean led the Toutle Lake attack with 26 points, while Natalie Buchanan came alive in the second half to finish with a season-high 24 points for Black Hills.
Toutle Lake’s defense held Black Hills to a season-low 43 points on just 24.5% shooting from the floor, and stellar junior guard Tyler Venable was frequently double teamed and could only muster up 12 points, a season low.
“It’s hard to prepare for a team like that. The teams we’ve played aren’t near that athletic. They’re just a tough team,” Black Hills head coach Herb Guscott said. “They run the floor really well. Honestly, they were just better than I think we were prepared for.”
Toutle Lake’s offense looked in midseason form from the tipoff. No matter if the possession began with an inbound, a steal or a defensive rebound, Lainey Dean made quick work with the Wolves defense and often heaved the ball down court to find an open runner to the basket or an open shooter. It was rare if the Ducks saw the shot clock run down to single digits, let alone below 15 seconds.
On the other end, Black Hills offense struggled to pass the ball and had trouble finding open shots. The Wolves turned the ball over four times before Venable broke the 20-0 Toutle Lake run to start the game with a layup eight minutes and 37 seconds into the contest.
Buchanan helped the Wolves find some life in the second quarter, scoring nine of their 11 points in the frame, but Toutle Lake still held a sizable 24-point lead at halftime.
Black Hills was much scrappier on both ends in the second half and outscored Toutle Lake 29-26 in the final 20 minutes, but the first-half damage was too much to overcome for the Wolves, who suffered their first loss of the season.
“We challenged the kids at halftime to keep the energy up and that it was just about pride and playing well for themselves, and they did,” Guscott said. “They didn’t play great, but the energy was right there. If they were to have come out like that, it might have been a little closer of a game at the end. We’ll bounce back, and we’re still gonna have a very, very good year.”
Outside of the 36 combined points from Buchanan and Venable, Black Hills (5-1) saw contributions from Cassidy O’Reilly (3), Haley McMahon (2), Megan Dolby (1) and Barrette McKissick (1). Venable led the Wolves with seven rebounds and recorded all four of their steals.
The Wolves will visit North Thurston from the 3A Puget Sound League Monday night.
