CONNELL -- Eric Perez led a balanced attack with 13 points and was 8-of-8 at the foul line in the fourth quarter to help Highland hold on for a 54-49 victory over No. 7 Connell in a first-round SCAC boys district game Thursday night.
Aaron Hawkins led Connell with 21 points, but SCAC East MVP Lance Whitney -- playing for the first time in three weeks after suffering a knee injury -- scored just three points.
The Eagles play Mabton in a loser-out game Saturday in Finley.
HIGHLAND (54)
Weis 8, Eric Perez 13, Fuller 6, Hyde 1, M. Newman 9, Podruzny 6, P. Newman 9, Hampton 2. Totals 17-47 17-22 54.
CONNELL (49)
Riner 2, Dillon, Aaron Hawkins 21, Whitney 3, Anderson 2, Martinez 1, Hadley 7, Thompson 11, Clinton 2, Taylor. Totals 18-52 7-14 49.
Highland 6 12 18 18 -- 54
Connell 10 9 16 14 -- 49
Burbank 67, Mabton 62
MABTON -- Trevor Lott scored seven of his 11 points in the third quarter as Columbia (Burbank) built a 49-38 lead and held on for a first-round SCAC district win.
Mabton got as close as five late in the game, but Neal Schuck, Jordan Rada and Sam Shelton combined to go 8-of-9 at the foul line to seal the win.
The Coyotes can earn a 1A state berth with a semifinal win over Highland on Saturday in Finley.
COLUMBIA (BURBANK) (67)
Neal Schuck 22, Byrd 15, Se.Shelton, Lott 11, Roberts, Rada 15, Davis, Sa.Shelton 4. Totals 23-30 17-22 67.
MABTON (62)
Frankie Smith 18, Carrasco 13, Mendez 2, Huecias 4, Brambila, Nash 5, Conradt 1, Rodriguez 6, Reynolds 13. Totals 22-44 10-16 62.
Burbank 15 13 21 18 -- 67
Mabton 12 14 12 24 -- 62
Naches Valley 47, River View 44
NACHES -- Chaz Ludwig and Marcus Martin scored 11 points apiece for River View, but Naches Valley held on for a first-round SCAC district win.
The Panthers play Wahluke in a loser-out game Saturday on their home court.
RIVER VIEW (44)
Marcus Martin 11, Grow, Vanourek 6, Cox, Contreras 7, Mauer, Chaz Ludwig 11, Pierce 3, Burnett 2, Sonderland 4.
NACHES VALLEY (47)
Wilcox 5, Flory 2, Gillespie 8, Parker 2, Alexander 6, Weigel 7, Adam Ranger 17.
River View 4 20 8 12 -- 44
Naches Valley 16 0 10 21 -- 47
Highlights -- Drew Sonderland 12 rbs; Ranger 11 rbs.
Granger 66, Wahluke 56
GRANGER (66)
Villa 12, Oswald 11, Cortez 1, Lopez 10, Mitchell Zapien 16, Carpenter 6, Reddout 1, Paul 9.
WAHLUKE (56)
Fabela 1, Rubalcava 11, De La Garza 14, Hirai 5, Acevedo 2, Aaron Neary 20, Calaway 3, Mendoza, Barajas.
Granger 17 13 16 20 -- 66
Wahluke 14 12 13 17 -- 56
Highlights -- Neary 20 rbs; Makai Hirai 5 assists; Alex Calaway 7 rbs
MLC 51, Pateros 35
WENATCHEE -- Isaac Murrell scored a game-high 15 points and top-ranked Moses Lake Christian won the North Central 1B district title and clinched a berth at next week's state tournament in Yakima.
PATEROS (35)
Wilson 13, B. Harvey 10, Easter 4, Myrick 4, Bighouse 2, Cook 2, Wheelock, Gonzalez.
MOSES LAKE CHRISTIAN (51)
Isaac Murrell 15, Moffet 11, Yarbro 9, McNamara 8, Roberts 4, Gjefle 4, Kagele.
Pateros 11 11 9 4 -- 35
Moses Lake Christian 8 17 13 13 -- 51
Hermiston 66, Pendleton 64, 2OT
HERMISTON -- Brad Irwin banked in a 15-footer at the buzzer to lift Hermiston to an IMC win, clinching a 5A state berth and moving the Bulldogs to within a half-game of first place Mountain View.
Irwin was one of three starters who did not play in the teams' first meeting, a Pendleton win.
Hermiston has won five in a row.
PENDLETON (64)
Spencer Sundin 22, Ernst 9, Baty 4, Wyland 2, Polhamus 17, Farley 10, Jones, Simpson. Totals 22-49 16-23 64.
HERMISTON (66)
Luis Ortiz 24, Rodriguez 2, Irwin 17, Royer 2, Meeks 5, Humphrey 9, Kayembe 7, Smith. Totals 26-60 12-24 66.
Pendleton 14 14 10 15 5 6 -- 64
Hermiston 8 13 15 17 5 8 -- 66
Highlights -- Devon Polhamus 7 rbs; Cody Meeks 11 rbs; Ortiz 7 asts.