Rogers boys basketball upsets Central Valley in GSL

Coming off his team’s first loss last week, Rogers boys basketball coach Joel Soter expected his Pirates to bounce back with a better effort Tuesday.

Soter got that and more.

Tate Dunbar hit a free throw with 13 seconds left to lift the visiting Pirates to a 56-54 upset win over the third-ranked Central Valley Bears in a Greater Spokane League game.

CV, the preseason favorite to win the league title, had a final desperation shot that didn’t go in.

“This is a huge win for us, especially after we didn’t think we performed well against (Gonzaga Prep),” Soter said of his team’s 54-47 loss last Friday.

Rogers got out to a 12-point lead early before CV rallied to take a one-point lead at half.

“It was a test of mental toughness after that,” the second-year Rogers coach said. “To beat a team as good as CV is always a great win.”

Rogers led by four when CV’s Cameron Tucker hit a 3-pointer with about 90 seconds left.

The Bears (4-1,3-1) and Pirates (3-1, 3-1) exchanged a few possessions before Dunbar hit the final free throw.

Dunbar led Rogers with 20 points, including four 3-pointers. KJ Hassett had 16.

“Tate stepped up big for us,” Soter said, noting usual leading scorer Robert Rucker got into early foul trouble.

“It was an all-around win for us,” Soter added. “We’ve been saying where are we going to be when things get tough. Are we going to persevere? They really came through.”

Tucker led CV with 22 points and Michael Hannan had 17 and 13 rebounds.

Rogers, which made just 8 of 17 free throws, made them count in the fourth quarter by going 6 of 8 at the foul line.

The Pirates overcame a big disadvantage rebounding. CV outrebounded Rogers 34-19.