Coming off a Class 1B state tournament berth, the Pe Ell High School girls basketball team opened the 2025-26 season in similar fashion to a lot of their games a year ago.
An energetic press defense, timely buckets from the guards and feeding post Peyton Zock on a routine basis all were the ingredients for a 55-16 win over Rochester on Tuesday night in the season and home opener.
The Trojans (1-0) were up by 14 after the opening eight minutes and doubled the margin by out-scoring the Warriors 14-0 in the second. A running clock was unleashed in the second half once the cushion ballooned to 43.
“I liked the energy we brought out; come out intense and stay intense for four quarters,” Pe Ell head coach Kelsey Lennox said. “It was nice to get everybody in. A couple of girls, it is their first time playing at the varsity level. Good to see that.”
Maisy King led the way, scoring 14 points and bringing down 15 rebounds.
“She did a great job pouring on the defensive pressure at the front of our press,” Pe Ell coach Kelsey Lennox said. “And she was an animal on the boards for us. She just has a nose for the ball.”
Peyton Zock added 12 points and 10 rebounds, Karli Phelps finished with 10 points, six assists, five steals, and a block. Ruby Magruder tallied nine points and three assists, and Madi Engel dished out six assists.
Rochester (0-2) did witness small improvement. Its defense limited the opponent to under 60 points and after scoring just seven in the first game, it over doubled that output. Turnovers eventually put the Warriors behind the eight-ball.
Liz Hoover and Lexi Dupont finished with six points each, while Lauren Rodriguez added four.
Pe Ell has nearly a week off before welcoming Three Rivers Christian to town on Tuesday while Rochester will battle former Evergreen Conference rival Aberdeen in a Saturday matinee.
