Reardan, Freeman Bow Out

1A boys basketball

Reardan coach Dan Smith said Wednesday that he and his squad were tired of losing close games at the boys State 1A basketball tournament after his Indians fell to Toutle Lake by just two points. A year ago Reardan lost both of its games by a combined four points.

Smith was looking for a change.

Well, he got one, but it wasn’t exactly what he was hoping for in the second round Thursday. Reardan’s consolation game with LaCenter wasn’t close at all. The Indians fell 57-39 in a loser-out game in the Tacoma Dome. LaCenter (17-9) advances to face Cle Elum (17-8) today.

“Obviously today we were never in the game,” said Smith, who’s Indians finished with a 15-13 record. “We never found a rhythm.”

It looked like Reece Jenkin might find his touch early after nailing his first 3-point attempt early in the first quarter. It turned out to be just a fluke, however, as Jenkin missed his next nine shots. The 6-foot-1 senior came into the tournament averaging 17.2 points, but managed just nine against LaCenter.

“They played good defense and I just couldn’t find it tonight,” Jenkin said. “I think my legs were dead from last night. It’s frustrating, but we had a good year.”

LaCenter 57, Reardan 39

LaCenter 14 8 20 15 - 57

Reardan 8 6 8 17 - 39

LaCenter - Newman 2, Rinaker 4, Mosley 2, Gore 15, Vis 17, Blalock-Howard 2, Johnson 9, Lambrect 6.

Reardan - Eastman 10, Jenkins 9, Falk 4, Flaa 2, Soliday 1, Anderson 4, Landreth 8, Hicks 1.

Zillah 54, Freeman 38

Ryan Snyder sank a pair of free throws early in the fourth quarter to pull the Scotties to within 35-32, but Freeman would not score for another 4 minutes.

The Leopards ran off 10 points in that stretch to put the game away.

Zillah shot 20 for 38 from the free-throw line while Freeman made just 11 of 18 free throws.

The Leopards also forced 25 Freeman turnovers and gave up the ball just 13 times. Zillah scored 20 points off those turnovers and allowed the Scotties just nine transition points.

Jordan Shkuratoff led the Scotties with 11 points. Jared Pope pulled down a game-high 11 rebound for Freeman.

Zillah 10 14 9 21 - 54

Freeman 12 7 11 8 - 38

Zillah - Colton 2, Walker 9, Rowe 18, Johnson 6, Irion 15, Merrill 1, Calhoun 2, Brock 1.

Freeman (38) - Love 1, Snyder 7, DePell 6, Pope 5, Shkuratoff 11, Carrell 2, Hyndman 6.