Knights extend win streak to four with victory over Wahluke

Royal Knights defeat Wahluke Warriors 76-43 in South Central Athletic Conference matchup

Jan. 29, 2026 at 2:15am

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The Royal Knights (14-2) defeated the Wahluke Warriors (8-9) 76-43 on Tuesday, extending their winning streak to four games. The Knights built a commanding 41-18 lead by halftime and cruised to a 33-point victory, led by a strong offensive performance from Grant Wardenaar, Graham Palmer, and Manny Ruvalcaba.

Why it matters

The win keeps the Knights in contention for top seeding in the South Central Athletic Conference as they continue to sharpen their skills ahead of the postseason. For the Warriors, a strong finish to the regular season could still position them well for the SCAC district tournament.

The details

The Warriors kept the game close early, trading shots with the Knights in the first quarter. However, Royal gradually pulled away, outscoring Wahluke 23-9 in the second quarter to take a 23-point lead at halftime. In the second half, the Knights' defense tightened up, and they continued to push the pace on offense, extending their lead to as much as 33 points.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, January 29, 2026.
  • The Knights travel to play Cashmere on January 29 at 7:15 p.m.
  • The Warriors hit the road on January 30 to play Wapato at 7:30 p.m.

The players

Tim Ravet

Head coach of the Royal Knights.

Grant Wardenaar

A key player for the Royal Knights who helped lead the team to victory.

Graham Palmer

A member of the Royal Knights' formidable trio that dominated on both ends of the court.

Manny Ruvalcaba

Part of the Royal Knights' formidable trio that dominated on both ends of the court.

Rafael Rodriguez

A player for the Wahluke Warriors who hit some early shots to keep the game close.

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What they’re saying

“That was kind of our identity, was moving the ball and getting the right people the right shots, and obviously they were making shots.”

— Tim Ravet, Head coach of the Royal Knights

“Mike Tyson said everybody has a plan until they're punched in the mouth. (Rafael Rodriguez) hit a couple shots early, and you just kind of got to get a feel for the game too. I think as it went on, we kind of got a good feel of what they were trying to do.”

— Tim Ravet, Head coach of the Royal Knights

“Defensively, we should be pretty sound. We're going to give up shots, but they need to be contested, and they need to be mid-range twos, not layups or open threes.”

— Tim Ravet, Head coach of the Royal Knights

“We try to have the mentality that we play to a standard, not a scoreboard, and we don't always hold ourselves to that all the time, but I felt like tonight we shared the ball through at least three quarters pretty well.”

— Tim Ravet, Head coach of the Royal Knights

What’s next

The Knights travel to play Cashmere on January 29 at 7:15 p.m. as they continue to sharpen their skills ahead of the postseason. The Warriors hit the road on January 30 to play Wapato at 7:30 p.m., and a strong finish could still position them well for the SCAC district tournament.

The takeaway

The Royal Knights' dominant performance, led by their formidable trio of Grant Wardenaar, Graham Palmer, and Manny Ruvalcaba, showcases their potential as they make a push for top seeding in the South Central Athletic Conference. Meanwhile, the Wahluke Warriors will look to rebound and position themselves well for the upcoming district tournament.