Odessa Wins A Thriller

District 7 B

How fitting that Ryan Floch would hit the game-winning free throws.

How awful that Jamie Gwinn’s foul would put Floch at the line with 2.2 seconds left in overtime.

Floch capped a 31-point effort Wednesday with two free throws that sent Odessa to its second consecutive State B tournament. The Tigers edged Almira/Coulee-Hartline 64-62 at Spokane Falls Community College to advance to the District 7 B title game against Valley Christian.

Valley Christian won the night’s second game, 61-40 over Curlew. The title game is set for Saturday night, time to be determined.

A reach-around foul sent Floch to the line, but Gwinn didn’t deserve the fate for two reasons.

First, Gwinn scored 26 of his season-high 32 points from the 6:20 mark of the fourth quarter. He hit seven consecutive baskets, including two 3-pointers, in the fourth quarter, and added eight points in OT.

Second, Gwinn’s defensive play on Floch was initially ruled a tie-up, with the alternating possession in favor of ACH. But the official behind the play changed the ruling to a foul.

“I knew he had reached around me,” Floch said. “He’d done it earlier and it wasn’t called. I guess you take what you can get.”

“You don’t like to see that,” Tigers coach Myron Kramer said. “You’d like to win the game on a basket.”

ACH first-year coach Nathan Dunham, a member of the Warriors’ 1991 state championship team, said he doesn’t concern himself with officials’ calls.

“We just tried doing the stuff that worked at Hartline when we beat them (during the Bi-County League season),” Dunham said. “The main thing was that we wanted to push the ball and make them play defense.”

Odessa had eight-point leads in the second and third quarters, but Tom Dormaier started an ACH rally with a 3-pointer and layup.

Gwinn shot over Floch’s tight defense for his bushel of points. He finished 13 of 20 from the field after starting the game 3 of 7.

Floch was 8 of 12 from the floor in the first half. He finished with 19 rebounds to guide a 37-18 edge.

Dormaier’s driving layup with 9.5 seconds left forced OT. The Tigers never trailed for the final 2:30, but the game was tied at 57, 60 and 62.

“There’s been a lot more pressure on us this year because every team has been gunning for us,” Floch said.

Odessa 64, Almira/Coulee-Hartline 62 (OT)

ACH 9 14 9 21 9 - 62

Odessa 9 15 11 18 11 - 64

Almira/Coulee-Hartline (17-7) - Evans 0, Carstensen 4, Thomas 2, Elder 3, Murray 1, White 2, Dormaier 16, Gwinn 32, Neilsen 2.

Odessa (17-5) - Dart 4, Kramer 3, Weber 0, G. Schafer 4, Floch 31, Jeske 8, Pitts 14, Walter 0.

Valley Christian 61, Curlew 40

Jeremy Decker’s defense, Jared Evans’ first-quarter scoring, and Brent Decker’s third-quarter scoring meant a return trip to state for the Panthers.

VC, the defending district champion, placed second last year during its first state appearance.

Jeremy Decker had the major hand in shutting down Curlew junior Jeremy Groth, who averages 23.9 points per game. Groth finished 2 of 12 from the field and scored six points.

“Jeremy (Decker) deserves the game ball tonight,” said Panthers coach Steve Altmeyer. “I believe Jeremy Groth hadn’t has anybody, ever, stick it to him like that.”

Evans scored 11 points in the first quarter, including two 3-pointers, for a 13-point VC lead. Eric Smith, playing with a sprained ankle, added eight first-quarter points for the Panthers.

Team scoring leader Brent Decker (15.8 ppg) picked up three quick fouls in the first half and went scoreless. He roared back with 11 points in the third quarter.

Curlew hung around until midway through the third quarter, but the Panthers took a 42-28 lead after a 9-0 run.

Curlew started the season 22-0 but must win two straight to qualify for state.

Curlew 8 14 10 8 - 40

Valley Christian 21 8 16 16 - 61

Curlew (23-2) - W. Barkley 0, Andreas 0, C. Groth 3, Anderson 0, J. Groth 6, Edwards 5, Olsen 11, March 10, Stotts 0, H. Barkley 0, Wheaton 5, Somday 0.

Valley Christian (21-2) - Knigge 0, J. Decker 2, Smith 10, Troyer 7, Brecto 0, Barriero 8, B. Decker 12, Evans 19, Bolster 0, Lacy 3.

Republic 56, Northwest Christian 46

Chad Dinkins scored 20 points as the Tigers eliminated the Crusaders at Spokane Community College.

Republic’s Kris Krohn added 7-of-10 shooting from the field.

Doug Malott hit four 3-pointers and Mark Crouch had seven assists for NWC.

Republic 13 13 13 17 - 56

NW Christian 14 9 10 13 - 46

Republic (20-5) - Dinkins 20, Russell 4, McCurdy 0, Dansel 0, Hanks 6, Krohn 15, C. Rickard 0, R. Rickard 0, Davenport 9, Hutton 0, T. Rickard 0, Grundei 2.

Northwest Christian (16-9) - DiStefano 0, Proffitt 1, Orr 0, Smith 3, Descoteaux 0, Strandy 6, Malott 16, Sharkey 0, Goldman 12, Crouch 8.

Liberty 66, Inchelium 36

Jeremy Engle and Mike Johnson combined to hit 10 of 17 from the floor and the Lancers eliminated the Hornets at SCC.

Inchelium 9 6 9 12 - 36

Liberty 17 18 18 13 - 66

Inchelium (12-12) - Bradshaw 4, Jolley 1, Simpson 2, Johnson 7, Swan 5, Michel 9, Mason 0, Tonasket 6, Simmons 0, Burch 2.

Liberty (15-9) - Smith 0, Engle 13, B. Holling 9, J. Holling 4, Johnson 15, Repp 8, Frampton 5, R. Wiman 4, Greenwalt 0, Brumley 4, Horlacher 4.