Eagles hang in there for a while

YAKIMA – The West Valley Eagles had a plan. They knew what they needed to do to take down highly regarded Ephrata and more importantly, they were executing it.

But for just a moment the Eagles let their minds wander and the chance slipped away as the Tigers moved into the semifinals of the boys State 2A basketball championship with a 62-43 win Thursday night.

West Valley will play Mark Morris at 2 p.m. in the fourth/seventh bracket.

West Valley had played patiently and masterfully through the first half and, after an opening burst in the third period, trailed just 30-28. Then it all fell apart.

The Eagles’ chance at an upset frittered away with an 11-0 Ephrata run midway through the third period. WSU-bound Patrick Simon had seven of the points on a couple short jumpers and a 3-pointer.

Further compounding West Valley’s problem was continued shooting problems. After shooting 32 percent in the first half, the Eagles hit just one of 11 3-point shots in the second half.

“We knew their big guns would get their points,” West Valley coach Jay Humphrey said of Simon and Ross Burchert. “But they had some other kids, 20 and 24, make big shots when they needed them.”

Humphrey was referring to Bryce Todd (20) who finished with eight points but who had two big 3-pointers and Mark Novik, whose follow basket off Simon’s missed dunk, came in the middle of the 11-0 run.

Lynden 59, Deer Park 31: A day after ending a 55-year drought in state tournament play with a win, the Stags were knocked into the consolation bracket by one of the state’s more tournament-tested programs.

Deer Park (16-7) will play Fife in the fourth/seventh bracket at 12:30 p.m.

Deer Park was victimized by Lynden’s torrid shooting – 56 percent from the field including 14 of 20 for the second half – and their own 2-of-22 shooting from the floor.

Lynden, which has appeared in 44 state tournaments across multiple classifications and won its 100th tournament game Thursday, was led by Jake DeWitt and Blair Bomber who had 11 each. Ryan Seto added 10.

Colton Peone, who had 11 points, led Deer Park in scoring for the second straight day

Clarkston 63, Steilacoom 50: The Bantams advanced by stunning the Sentinels with a 20-6 fourth-period run. Clarkston made 18 of 21 free throws in the period, eight by Trey Sobotta, who finished with 21 points to lead all scorers.

Clarkston (17-7) will play Mount Baker at 10:30 in the fifth/eighth bracket.

Dustin McConnell added 18 points for Clarkston.