Kettle Falls Boys Basketball Stays Alive
The Kettle Falls boys and girls basketball teams finished the regular season last week and played in the first round of the NE- 2B postseason, where the boys managed to stay alive and move on to the next round. The Bulldogs girls finished up the regular season with a 50- 40 loss to Northwest Christian before a opening round loss to Lind-Ritzville/ Sprague by the score of 51- 42 in a loser out postseason game. The Kettle Falls boys fell 66- 44 to Northwest Christian to finish out the regular season before winning their firstround playoff game against Asotin 59- 57.
On Tuesday at Northwest Christian ( 14- 6, 11- 4) the Kettle Falls girls’ played well, but lulls in the second and fourth quarters cost the Bulldogs in the 50- 40 loss. The Crusaders broke a close 14- 11 game open with a 14- 7 run in the second to lead 28- 18 at half. In the second half Kettle Falls was able to cut the deficit to only five points entering the fourth quarter, but Northwest Christian closed out with a 12- 7 run to hand the Bulldogs the ten point loss. LaVay Shrrum had 16 points for Kettle Falls, while Georgia Crockett had 20 points for the Crusaders.
The late game saw the Crusaders boys ( 17- 3, 12- 3) play stingy defense and keep the Bulldogs from establishing any offensive rhythm in a 66- 44 loss for Kettle Falls. The Bulldogs trailed 19- 13 after one and 34- 22 at halftime. In the second half the Crusaders outscored Kettle Falls 32- 22 and cruised to the 22- point win. Zane Johnson
In the first round of the NE- 2B playoffs the Kettle Falls girls would face off against the Lind-Ritzville/ Sprague Broncos ( 10- 11, 5- 9). The Bulldogs played the game close in the first quarter, trailing 11- 9 early on, but in the second quarter the Broncos took some control with a 15- 9 run heading into halftime. In the second half Kettle Falls cut the deficit by three points to 39- 34, but in the fourth a 12- 8 finish by the Broncos handed the Bulldogs a 51- 42 loss. The Kettle Falls girls finished the season 4- 17 overall and 2- 13 in NE- 2B play.
The Kettle Falls boys’ first round opponent was the Asotin Panthers ( 714, 3- 11), and the Bulldogs held off a frantic fourth quarter comeback attempt to take the 59- 57 victory. The Bulldogs started out quickly, holding a 27- 18 halftime lead and leading by 12 points after three quarters. In the fourth Asotin started scoring and was closing the gap, but Kettle Falls did just enough on the offensive end to hold off the Panthers 28- 18 rally and come away with the 59- 57 victory. Zane Edwards had 19 points to lead the Bulldogs, while Cody Ellis had 20 points for Asotin. Currently Kettle Falls is 6- 15 overall and 2- 13 in NE- 2B play.
This week at West Valley High School, Kettle Falls played Davenport ( 19- 2, 15- 1) on Monday the winner of that game will play Wednesday at 6: 30 p. m., and the loser will play Wednesday at 3: 30 p.m.