Lakeside, Freeman end year
YAKIMA – Maybe this would be the year.
Perhaps a return to this Central Washington town – where the beginnings of a season turnaround took root in December – would allow the Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) Eagles to finally play well in the SunDome.
But in the final minutes of a State 1A boys basketball tournament consolation game against Toledo on Thursday, Lakeside players became tentative. A postseason that contained so much promise ended with a 63-62 loss to the Rockets.
Talon Rakoz swished a free throw with 25 seconds left to provide the winning point.
After Rakoz missed a second attempt, Lakeside brought the ball upcourt and called timeout. The Eagles couldn’t get off a shot before the final buzzer.
Lakeside led 39-25 at halftime and was in control until the final seconds.
In five previous trips to state tournaments here, the Eagles had advanced past Friday just one time, in 2004 when they finished sixth. But after a two-game holiday sweep here in December that untracked the team following an 0-8 start and propelled it to a 15-2 finishing drive, Lakeside (15-12) thought this would be the year.
But thanks to 68 percent shooting from Toledo in the second half and despite 19 points from Leif Parcell and 16 from Kyle Stillar, the Eagles headed home early again.
King’s 57, Freeman 49: The Knights eliminated the Scotties, capturing a taut back-and-forth game that had 24 lead changes and 11 ties.
The Scotties trailed by one headed into the fourth period, but the Knights quickly established separation with a 7-0 burst in the first 1:46 of the quarter.
Taylor Vold came up big for the second straight day for Freeman, scoring 14 points and pulling down seven rebounds in a near mirror image of his performance on Wednesday. Marcus Soelberg backed up that effort with 13 points.
The loss ended Freeman’s season at 18-11.
Lake Roosevelt 49, Winlock 48: Matt Pleasants’ layin with 2 seconds remaining kept the Raiders’ state-trophy hopes alive. The shot gave the Raiders their only lead in the final three periods.
The Raiders (22-6) rallied to knock off the Cardinals, cutting through a seven-point deficit in the final 4:49.
“Our kids have a lot of heart and they wouldn’t give up,” Raiders coach Brad Wilson said. “We didn’t play a complete game again today, but I guess it was better to not play a complete game and win than be like (Wednesday).”
The win keeps alive hopes for a first state trophy since 1979. A win today against King’s would assure the Raiders of a top-eight finish.
Seniors Coby Dick and Pleasants came up huge for the Raiders down the stretch, both making baskets when needed most.
Pleasants finished with 22 points and Dick added 14.