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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Improbable Heave Helps Carry L-W

Southeast B

It was hardly what his coach might have drawn up, but Troy Nealey’s fadeaway 28-footer at the halftime buzzer was precisely what LaCrosse-Washtucna needed Tuesday night.

“I think that was just fate right there,” said Nealey, a 6-foot-1 senior. “Right when I hit that, I knew that was the game right there.”

Nealey’s improbable heave proved pivotal as the Tigercats moved within two victories of a state playoff berth by defeating Waitsburg 73-48 in the Southeast District B boys basketball tournament at Friel Court.

LaCrosse-Washtucna (23-3), seeded third out of the Whitman County League after stumbling in sub-districts, must defeat DeSales twice - starting Friday night at 7, back at Friel - to earn the district’s lone state berth.

DeSales, seeded second out of the Blue Mountain League, needs just one victory for a spot in next week’s State B Tournament in Spokane.

If LaCrosse-Washtucna advances, Clint Ledbetter figures to be a major reason. The 6-foot-3 senior scored a career-high 26 points against Waitsburg, making 14 of 16 free throws.

But the Cardinals (19-5) were competitive early. Senior Brian Harris scored seven of his team-high 13 points in the opening 12 minutes, and Waitsburg led 27-25 with 1 minute left in the first half.

The lead wouldn’t last long.

Ledbetter scored six straight points, including two freebies when Waitsburg coach Mike White was hit with a technical foul, before Nealey’s heave gave the Tigercats a 34-27 halftime cushion.

Suddenly energized, LaCrosse-Washtucna scored the first seven points of the second half, starting with a 3-pointer from senior Casey Rouleau (17 points).

“When you go in and you’re playing tough defense and someone hits a 3-pointer on you or a big shot, you can’t help but go into the locker room dejected,” Tigercats coach Andy Stinson said. “It’s hard to bounce back from that.”

Waitsburg tried, but the Tigercats always found an answer.

When the Cardinals pulled within 43-32 on Chris Pearson’s 3-pointer late in the third quarter, L-W sophomore Cole Schweiger (14 points) responded immediately with his fourth and final 3.

Moments later, when another 3 from Pearson cut it to 48-35, there was Rouleau, fighting through for a tip-in that made it 50-35 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Cardinals wouldn’t get any closer, largely because the Tigercats made 15 of 19 free throws over the final 8 minutes.

The Tigercats made 25 of 33 from the line overall, compared with just 5 of 8 for Waitsburg, which came in as the Blue Mountain League’s top seed.

For LaCrosse-Washtucna, winner of four straight loser-out games, last week’s sub-district loss to Tekoa-Oakesdale doesn’t seem quite so bad.

“Really, I think it was good for us,” Ledbetter said. “It got our focus back straight on the team and we’ve been playing really good since.”

LaCrosse-Wash. 73, Waitsburg 48

LaCrosse-Wash. 15 19 16 23 - 73

Waitsburg 14 13 8 13 - 48

LACROSSE-WASHTUCNA Nealey 9, Colter 0, Schweiger 14, Ledbetter 26, Rouleau 17, Anderson 1, Henley 0, Daniel 2, Whitman 0, Wigen 0, Hammond 0, Blankenship 4.

WAITSBURG Leid 2, Shollenberger 4, Riggs 5, Scott 4, Pearson 8, Harris 13, Wyatt 0, Abel 0, Ward 4, McCaw 4, Mohney 4.

Girls

Waitsburg 56, LaCrosse-Wash. 41

Kynde Kiefel scored seven in the first quarter and Anne Bickelhaupt added eight in the third quarter as the Cardinals (19-4) eliminated the Tigercats (12-12).

L-W’s Rochelle Schneider scored her nine in the third quarter. Waitsburg plays DeSales Friday in a loser-out contest. The winner will earn a shot at the second state berth.

LaCrosse-Wash. 2 13 15 11 - 41

Waitsburg 17 12 21 6 - 56

LACROSSE-WASHTUCNA R.Schneider 9, A.Camp 5, Cronrath 5, A.Bay 11, Kinch 0, D.Bay 6, Bryan 2, Wigen 3, Larsen 0, Thompson 0, N.Schneider 0.

WAITSBURG W.Jones 4, Hulce 2, E.Jones 0, Ryckman 3, Stokes 7, McCaw 5, Scott 2, Bickelhaupt 16, Kiefel 17.

DeSales 53, Asotin 39

Amber Hellberg hit 11 of 14 free throws to lead the Irish (18-4) over the Panthers (12-12) in a loser-out game.

Asotin’s Tara McNair scored seven in the second quarter.

Asotin 5 13 9 12 - 39

DeSales 16 14 6 17 - 53

ASOTIN Beloit 4, Mendosa 0, Johnsen 0, Schnider 3, Mills 0, Fred 0, McNair 15, Shaw 2, Hawkins 0, Roberts 2, Van Trease 0, McCann 13.

DESALES Waller 0, Dutton 16, Lynch 0, Lee 0, Graham 2, E.Hellberg 11, Long 5, A.Hellberg 19, Balakier 0, Postlewait 0, Buchkoski 0.

, DataTimes