The energy is unbelievable here at Kamiakin High School tonight, and the CBBN 3A district championship between Kennewick and Kamiakin is everything it's expected to be so far.
The Braves got off to a 7-0 start, but Reggie Clinton hit a 3-pointer and Bryce Leavitt scored eight straight points for the Lions to put Kennewick back in it at 12-11.
Zach En'Wezoh finishes the first quarter on a strong note, burying an 18-foot jumper from the top of the key with 2 seconds left.
Kamiakin leads 16-13 after one.
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Braves working the high-low game extremely well with Pedley. He's an expert at getting position and he's working it. Pedley has seven points in the first two minutes of the second quarter and 11 for the game.
Alex Quinn puts a nice shoulder fake and drives to the basket for Kamiakin. Devven Ramos answers for Kennewick with an off-balance runner in the lane. En'Wezoh now with a reverse pivot down low. That's nine for him.
27-21 Braves with 3:49 left in the second quarter.
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Kennewick misses 7 of its final 8 shots of the second quarter. Fortunately, Kamiakin isn't exactly going nuts from the field, either. What the Braves are doing is playing great defense and attacking the basket to get free-throw chances.
Cooper Clyde drains a 3-pointer with 47 seconds left in the half to give the Braves a 32-21 lead.
That's how the half ends. The Lions definitely need a spark on offense. They've got the right guys in there to do it.
On the other hand, I'm sure Kamiakin is expecting a big second-half push, so they'll have to ratchet things up to quell an uprising.
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Good start for Kennewick to open the third. Clinton bombs a 3 from the right corner, and then Brandon Pocasangre does the same on the next Lions' possession to cut it to 34-27.
Looks like the East Kennewick Uglies still believe.
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Now Leavitt an NBA-range bomb from the right wing. 36-30 Kamiakin with 5:16 left in the third.
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Clinton another 3 from left wing. 36-33 Braves with 4:09 left in the third. That's a 9-2 run.
We've got an amazing game here.
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Kamiakin stops the bleeding, but Kennewick is right back in it with an inspired third quarter.
Braves lead has been cut to 41-39.
Every high school coach in the world has always preached how important the fourth quarter is. This game is exactly what they're talking about.
Here we go.
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En'Wezoh playing with some fire again. He's got four points and three rebounds in the first 3 1/2 minutes of the fourth as Kamiakin takes a 47-44 lead.
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But Lions get a boost with a big steal by Ramos at halfcourt. Then Clinton and Pocasangre operate a flawless give and go to cut it to 47-46. Pedley hits 1-of-2 free throws for Kamiakin and then Domach Domach hits maybe the biggest bucket of his career on the other end, a reverse layin to tie it at 48.
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Pedley takes over inside, going on a personal 6-0 run to push Braves lead to 54-48 with 2:40 left to play.
Kennewick not done yet. Ramos drives the lane to sink a teardrop floater and draw the foul. He converts the three-point play to cut it to 54-51 with 2:26 left.
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Kamiakin tried to pull ahead after Pedley buried another short jumper inside. But Clinton busted a 3 from the left wing to cut it to 57-55.
Domach hit the biggest bucket of his life three minutes ago, but he just outdid himself, converting a 3-point play to tie it at 58 with 16 seconds left.
Pedley drives in on the final play and gets fouled with 0.2 seconds left by Stetson Plew. Then he hits the game winner for the district title.
59-58 Kamiakin.
