District 8 3A boys: Kamiakin edges Mt. Spokane for title

When both teams struggle to score all game, usually things come down to free throws and a play at the end.

That was the case in the District 8 3A boys championship game.

Trailing by four with 2 second left, Mt. Spokane freshman Tyson Degenhart found himself at the line for a 1-and-1. He hit the first to make it a one-shot game, then missed the second intentionally off the front of the rim.

The ball came right back to him and he heaved a 3-point attempt – with plenty of contact – but didn’t get the call as time expired.

Thus, second-seeded Kamiakin (17-5), the Mid-Columbia Conference 3A champ, knocked off No. 1 seed and Greater Spokane League 3A champ Mt. Spokane (16-5) 48-45 in the title game at the Spokane Arena on Thursday.

Mt. Spokane faces Kennewick in the second-place game for a berth to regionals on Friday at 4:30 p.m. at the Arena.

Asked what he saw on the last play of the game, Mt. Spokane coach David Wagenblast said, “Same thing everyone else in the gym saw.

“It’s just tough in this moment to say at one end, ‘Oh, there was a call’ and this one there wasn’t. I understand (the referee) is not going to make a call with 2 seconds to go. It is what it is.”

Wagenblast has fewer than 24 hours to get his team ready to fight to extend its season.

“We’re going to be ready to go tomorrow,” he said.

Kamiakin scored the first eight points of the game, including 3-pointers by Champ Grayson and Garrett Paxton.

Mt. Spokane’s Jerry Twenge answered with a 3, but Paxton’s layup at the end of the quarter put the Braves up 12-6 after one. Kamiakin extended the advantage to 16-8.

The shooting was ragged early, especially for the Wildcats.

“We normally make those shots,” Wagenblast said. “We missed 20 layins that we’ve made all year.”

Mt. Spokane then went on a seven-point run. Tyson Degenhart converted a three-point play and a floating layup, and Cole Hattenberg’s layup made it 16-15 with a little over 4 minutes left in the half.

Both teams continued to struggle though and Kamiakin took a 20-17 advantage into intermission.

The offense picked up – a little – at the start of the third. Degenhart’s layup tied it at 26.

Grayson broke free for a fast-break dunk and followed with a jumper, but Degenhart drove the lane to get back within two at 30-28.

After a Robert Pischel basket for Kamiakin, Twenge nailed a 3 from the wing and Mt. Spokane entered the fourth quarter down 32-31.

Kamiakin got it out to 12 with about 3 minutes left, but Twenge’s 3-pointer with 2:17 left made it a seven-point game.

Hattenberg made a layup to cut the deficit to five with 51 seconds left and Degenhart made a pair of free throws to make it a three-point game with 28 seconds left.

After a miss, Twenge was called for a charge and Paxton made 1 of 2 at the line for a four-point lead with 20 seconds left.

Degenhart made both of a 1-and-1 with 13.6 seconds left and Kamiakin led 46-44.

Mt. Spokane went full-court press and Kamiakin opted for a Hail Mary. Twenge was called for the intention foul and Paxton Flynn made 1 of 2 for a three-point lead and the ball with 10.6 left.

Paxton was then fouled on the inbounds pass and he made 1 of 2 from the line to get it back to four.

Paxton led Kamiakin with 20 points and Grayson added 11.

Degenhart finished with 17 points for the Wildcats and Twenge had 11.

Kennewick 51, North Central 49: Jenner Norwood scored 11 points, Ayoni Benevidez added 10 and the fourth-seeded Lions (10-12) edged the fifth-seeded Indians (12-12) at the Arena.

A layup by Parish Neil drew the Indians within two points late, but Tucker Newman converted a 1-and-1 with 7.9 seconds left to seal it for the Lions.

Chris Regalado scored 17 points for North Central while Rafa Stone added 11.