Pullman fades in fourth, OT

YAKIMA –Ken Swanger conceded that his Pullman Greyhounds played well for two quarters and the Cashmere Bulldogs played well for two quarters of their State 2A boys basketball tournament game for fourth and seventh places.

The problem for Pullman: The game went into overtime and the Bulldogs (23-4) dominated that period for a 59-52 win Saturday at the SunDome.

“That was a great game between two very good basketball teams,” Swanger said. “Even when we were ahead, we knew they wouldn’t quit.”

The Bulldogs rallied from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter behind Jon Gasbar and Michael Miller.

The duo sparked an 11-0 run over the last 3:42 of regulation. The Bulldogs outscored Pullman (19-8) 31-14 during the final 12 minutes.

Matt Caples, son of Cashmere coach Miles Caples, had five of the Bulldogs’ 11 points in OT.

Coaches Caples and Swanger are longtime friends. The last time the Caples family was in Pullman, Caples had a chance to see the home Swanger has been building for the past two years.

Another coach’s son, Pullman sophomore J.T. Levenseller, led the Greyhounds with 18 points off the bench and made the all-tournament second team. The son of WSU football assistant coach Mike Levenseller had 10 points while playing 10:47 in the first half. He helped the Greyhounds rally from a 12-4 deficit for a halftime tie.

“We had such a terrible start, we needed a lift and our young guys came off the bench and responded,’ Swanger said. … “JT is going to be a special player for us.”