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KENNEWICK -- Jamison Rowe doesn't have to say much to make a point. His quiet intensity usually speaks for itself.
But Richland's senior guard knew one thing about the Bombers' 63-53 loss to Eisenhower in the semifinals of the 4A Eastern Regional tournament at Toyota Center.
And he wasn't afraid to say it.
"We had a poor shooting night," Rowe said after Richland shot just 17-for-63 (27 percent) against the second-ranked team in the state. Rowe himself was 0-for-9, although he did contribute nine rebounds, four steals and three assists.
"Now we've got a nothing-to-lose mentality," he said.
It's a position the Bombers are familiar with, having won three straight games at regionals last year after a first-round loss to earn a trip to state.
So today the Bombers (15-10) will face Pasco (17-9) for the fifth time this season in a loser-out contest that will give the winner a chance to play for the region's third and final slot to the 4A state tournament.
The Cadets (24-1) will face Walla Walla (19-6) for the Eastern Regional title at 5 p.m.
"I think (today) we'll have a lot better shooting performance," Rowe said.
Standing behind him in a nearly barren Richland locker room, Bombers coach Earl Streufert was quick to echo those sentiments.
"That's a pretty safe bet," Streufert said.
Eisenhower, on the other hand, got just what it needed from Taylor Elmo and Robert Bonser, who combined to hit 21 of 36 shots for 45 points. They also combined for 18 rebounds.
"We got started off so slow," said Cadets coach Pat Fitterer. "We started with a full-court press but Richland made it look so easy to get through."
The Bombers started on a 8-2 run, capped by Brett Jacobs' 3-pointer from the right wing just 2:19 into the game. But Ike finished the frame on a 13-5 run to lead 15-13 after one quarter.
Richland trailed 30-21 at the half, but used a 12-2 run to take a 33-32 lead at 4:13 of the third quarter. It was their last lead of the game.
Ike finished the third quarter on a 7-0 run after Elmo grabbed a loose ball and buried a 22-foot 3-pointer from the left wing for a 39-33 lead with just seconds left.
"That was a backbreaker. It just rolled around for a while and then he threw up a prayer," Streufert said. "The kids played hard. We just got a little panicked when the game was still within reach."
Clint Smith led Richland with 13 points, while Jacobs finished with nine points and 10 rebounds.
Ike 63, Richland 53
EISENHOWER (63)
Taylor Elmo 23, Gaut 12, Watson, Lopez 2, Fowler, Berman 4, Bonser 22. Totals 27-56 8-15 63.
RICHLAND (53)
Clint Smith 13, Radliff 7, Jacobs 9, Rowe, McCargar 7, Dunford 4, Hilty 2, Ga.Gallinger, Vedder 2, Douglas 9. Totals 17-63 14-23 53.
Eisenhower 15 15 9 24 -- 63
Richland 13 8 12 20 -- 53
Highlights -- Robert Bonser 10 rbs; James Lopez 6 rbs, 9 asts; Jordan Gaut 9 rbs; Elmo 8 rbs; Brett Jacobs 10 rbs, 6 stls; Jamison Rowe 9 rbs, 3 asts, 4 stls; Smith 7 rbs; Calvin Douglas 7 rbs.
Pasco 72, Davis 68
Robert Montao led Pasco with 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range, and the Bulldogs had to hold off a fourth-quarter charge from pesky Davis.
Pasco, which split with the Pirates during the regular season, outscored Davis 22-8 in the third to grab a 53-38 lead.
"We knew Davis would come out and give us their best shot," said Pasco coach Chad Herron. "We were up 16 in the fourth quarter and they still cut it down to 5."
The Pirates switched to a man-to-man defense in the fourth quarter, which allowed the Bulldogs to attack the basket and create scoring opportunities. When they didn't hit a field goal, they hit free throws, nailing 17-of-19 in the second half.
"We would get it to (Anthony) Scales and have him drive and dish," Montao said. "When we are playing for our lives, we know we can play against any team."
Against Richland -- a team Pasco has beaten three of four times this season -- the Bulldogs are hoping to take advantage of their agility and quickness.
"We're just so different," Herron said. "They present matchup problems with their height, and we give them problems with our speed."
Scales added 14 points and five assists, and Jeramie Streicher scored 13 points for Pasco.
Pasco 72, Davis 68
PASCO (72)
Robert Montao 21, Scales 14, Uvay 8, Griffin 10, Streicher 13, Negron 2, Villafan 4. Totals 23-51 19-21 72.
DAVIS (68)
David Trimble 21, Henderson 13, Mendoza 6, Cuevas, Lopez 8, Luckett 10, Marquis 6, Hata, Miner 2, Winckler 2. Totals 28-56 8-11 68.
Pasco 19 12 22 19 -- 72
Davis 12 18 8 30 -- 68
Highlights -- Ismael Uvay 6 rbs; Anthony Scales 5 asts, 4 rbs; Montao 5 rbs, 4 asts; Andre Griffin 4 rbs, 4 asts; Trimble 12 rbs, 5 asts, 3 stls.
Walla Walla 50, Lewis & Clark 35
Gary Winston led all scorers with 25 points, 14 in the second half, as Walla Walla beat Lewis & Clark to clinch its first state berth since 2004.
Winston hit 12 of 18 shots and added three steals and three assists as the Blue Devils erased a 22-17 halftime deficit.
"We had the jitters a little bit," said Wa-Hi coach John Golden. "It was a gutty performance after being down at the half."
Winston, a 6-foot junior guard, said the raucous Blue Devils fans at courtside played a big role in the team's second-half surge.
"This wasn't just for us. This was for the whole Walla Walla community," Winston said. "I went to (watch) state as a freshman, but now I get to play."
Austin Ehlo, son of former NBA guard Craig Ehlo, led LC with 12 points, including a pair of 3-pointers.
The Tigers (14-11) will play Gonzaga Prep (21-3) in a loser-out contest at 1 p.m. today. The winner will face the Richland-Pasco winner for the third and final berth to state.
Wa-Hi 50, LC 35
LEWIS & CLARK (35)
Austin Ehlo 12, Davenport, Eglet 2, Poland 3, Taylor 9, Hoffman 9. Totals 13-36 6-10 35.
WALLA WALLA (50)
Gary Winston 25, Heitzmann, Richards, Hessler 11, Weisner 5, Clothier, James 2, Arias 7. Totals 18-29 13-18 50.
Lewis & Clark 13 9 5 8 -- 35
Walla Walla 8 9 17 16 -- 50
Highlights -- Taylor Eglet 5 asts; Michael Weisner 6 rbs, 3 asts; Winston 3 asts, 3 stls.
Gonzaga Prep 76, Wenatchee 60
Ryan Nicholas scored 23 points to lead four players in double figures as Gonzaga Prep beat Wenatchee (15-11) in a loser-out matchup and advanced to play GSL rival Lewis & Clark in the consolation semis.
G-Prep 76, Wenatchee 60
WENATCHEE (60)
Austin Bryan 17, Connor Smith 17, Siderius 5, Arndt, Reese 11, Helm, Borrelli, Martin 2, Freund 6, Herron 2, Helton. Totals 18-37 23-32 60.
GONZAGA PREP (76)
Ryan Nicholas 23, Fischer 18, Stockton 15, Kelly, Sarbaugh 1, Hanson 3, Nelson 2, Long 12, Hellenthal 2, Kaufmann. Totals 26-54 20-24 76.
Wenatchee 9 17 16 18 -- 60
Gonzaga Prep 16 17 18 21 -- 76
Highlights -- Smith 5 rbs, 3 asts; Nicholas 9 rbs; David Stockton 5 asts.
