Wa-Hi boys erase double-digit deficit, still suffer season-ending loss
In a developing trend Friday at the Spokane Arena, the Walla Walla High School boys basketball team came all the way back from a double-digit deficit, only to fall to the Lewis and Clark Tigers 57-51 in a winner-to-regionals, loser-out game of the District 8 4A playoffs.
Down by as many as 11 points throughout the second half, the Blue Devils (15-9) went on a 17-6 run from the 2-minute mark of the third quarter to the same spot in the fourth to earn their first and only tie of the game at 49-all. But in spite of the rally, they never led, and saw their season come to an end with the loss.
“We started to get some momentum there, but a few empty possessions at the end and we just couldn’t carry it all the way,” Walla Walla coach John Golden said.
At No. 13 in the RPI entering the day, Lewis and Clark (16-8) could conceivably host its regional-round, loser out game, as seeds 9-12 host 13-16 next weekend.
Taylor Hamada scored 18 points and Tyler Greene 15 for Wa-Hi, and both made a couple critical 3-pointers late to help the cause. Naje Smith led the Tigers with 18 points.
WALLA WALLA: Tyler Greene 15, Golden 6, Taylor Hamada 18, Likes 5, Sullivan, Edwards, Bergevin, Handcox 5, Swanson, McAlvey, Ashbeck, Weigand 2. Totals: 7-10 FT, 51.
LEWIS AND CLARK: Griffin Effenber 12, Rosenau 3, Guillory 4, Jonny Love 14, Naje Smith 18, Proost 2, Merritt 4, Sieveke, Goyko, Cleary, Schofield. Totals: 12-19 FT, 57.
Walla Walla | 8 | 16 | 8 | 19 | — | 51 |
Lewis and Clark | 14 | 19 | 10 | 14 | — | 57 |
Dustin Brennan: 509-582-1413, @Tweet_By_Dustin
This story was originally published February 16, 2018 at 3:33 PM with the headline "Wa-Hi boys erase double-digit deficit, still suffer season-ending loss."