Friday, Feb. 13, 2009

CBBN boys notebook: Uvay, Lions savor season-ending win

By Jack Millikin, Herald staff writer

KENNEWICK -- A victory is always sweet.

For Osvaldo Uvay and the Kennewick Lions, Tuesday's 50-42 win over Southridge on the final day of the regular season was about redemption.

The game meant nothing to either team in terms of postseason positioning -- both had already been eliminated from 4A district consideration. But the 0-19 Lions had something to prove.

The 2000-01 Kennewick boys finished 0-18 in Big Nine play -- their only win came out of conference -- but not since 1997-98 (Southridge, 0-20) had a 4A boys team gone winless for an entire season.

The Lions trailed 16-13 at halftime, but Uvay -- who led Kennewick with 16 points -- sparked a 22-8 third-quarter run to put the Lions in control.

Andrew Mendenhall scored 12 of Southridge's 16 points in the first half, but Uvay combined with Drew Loftus and Kor Ter to hold Mendenhall to just six second-half points.

"I'm really happy for our team and our coach (Bradyn Leyde)," Uvay said. "This was the only game we played as a team. If we would have played like this all season, we would have won seven games."

It was a happy ending for Uvay, a 6-foot senior guard who transferred to Kennewick from Pasco before his junior season. The decision was a curious one that removed him not only from a Bulldogs program with a bright future but also his twin brother Ismael.

Still, it was Osvaldo's decision, and he owned it.

"I just wanted to be different from my brother. I wanted to see what I could create on my own," he said.

The move gave Osvaldo a fresh start and a shot at the 3A state tournament last season.

But this year has been different. With the loss of all-CBBN guard Robbie Mitchell and 6-7 post Tony Bryant, Kennewick faltered under first-year coach Leyde. But Uvay, who finished as the Lions leading scorer at 9.8 points a game, has had his share of highlights.

"When he's on, he's definitely a great shooter," Leyde said. "He can stretch out defenses and create space for guys inside."

Osvaldo faced his brother twice this season, lighting up the scoreboard for 24 points in a 72-60 December loss. But Ismael locked in on his twin, holding him to just three points in their second matchup, a 69-51 Pasco win.

"I know my brother can't go to his left. That's his weakness," Ismael said. "He was frustrated. He went home and my mom told him he should've stayed at Pasco."

Ismael and Osvaldo plan to attend college together -- possibly Everett or CBC -- and may try walking on to the basketball teams. This weekend, Osvaldo will watch his brother, a starter for Pasco, in the 4A district playoffs.

Since Kennewick didn't qualify for the postseason, he'll have to pay for a ticket.

It's a price he seems willing to pay.