Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009

Pasco boys hold off Kennewick

By Kevin Anthony, Herald staff writer

PASCO -- If ever there was a game for the Kennewick boys to sneak in a victory, it was this one.

The winless Lions were starting the second half of the CBBN Columbia season Friday night against an inconsistent Pasco squad coming off a close win over rival Richland.

The Bulldogs have spent the last month spinning their tires, following each win with a loss, and a let-up against the Lions was not out of the question.

Moreover, Kennewick had clawed its way back from a 19-point third-quarter hole, closing to within six points in the first minute of the fourth quarter.

But that's when the Bulldog Express got back on track.

Robert Montano scored six of his game-high 17 points during a 16-3 fourth-quarter run to lead Pasco to a 69-51 victory.

"That's always a concern," Pasco coach Chad Herron said of his team's penchant for inconsistent play. "This group has proven they can win some big games and then drop some games they're expected to win."

The Bulldogs certainly were susceptible to dropping one to the Lions when the visitors came roaring back in the third quarter.

Travis Karr and Kor Ter jump-started the 17-3 run with four points each, Ter doing a great job of pushing the action at Pasco's active defense.

Then 6-foot-5 junior post Travis Sharp came up ... well ... big. Easily the biggest body on either team, Sharp finally muscled through the defense for a pair of free throws and then a rousing three-point play on a four-shot possession.

When Trent Brown (team-high 16 points) dropped in his fourth 3-pointer, the margin was down to 43-38 with 28 seconds left in the quarter.

"We're knockin' on the door," Kennewick coach Bradyn Leyde said.

But Kennewick's ol' nemesis -- turnovers -- came into play in the final period. Back-to-back miscues helped spark Pasco's deciding run, ignited by Jeramie Streicher's fourth 3-pointer and a three-point play by Ismael Uvay, who spent most of the game matched up defensively with his twin brother, Kennewick guard Osvaldo Uvay.

The Lions finished with 23 turnovers, which deflated a 17-for-38 (45 percent) shooting night.

"We know as long as we play defense, no team can stop us," said Montano, sporting a "team unity" mohawk.

Streicher finished with 12 points and Anthony Scales had 10 despite missing chunks of time in foul trouble for Pasco.

KENNEWICK (51)

Trent Brown 16, Ter 6, O.Uvay 3, Karr 7, Sharp 9, Westermeyer, Loftus 4, Morfin 2, Ross 4. Totals 17-38 13-22 51.

PASCO (69)

Robert Montano 17, Scales 10, I.Uvay 9, Griffin 5, Streicher 12, Perez 8, Negron 2, Reid, Briggs 2, Villafan 4, Le Mieux. Totals 27-62 6-7 69.

Kennewick 10 11 17 13 -- 51

Pasco 15 16 15 23 -- 69

Highlights -- Kennewick 23 TOs, Pasco 12 TOs; Kor Ter 6 rebs; Brown 6 rebs; Andre Griffin 4 rebs; Gabe Villafan 4 rebs.