(Longview, WA) – The Lower Columbia Red Devils and Highline Thunderbirds battled back and forth in a competitive game where neither side could establish the type of run that leads to victory.
Until overtime.
The Devils outscored the T-Birds 14-7 in the extra session and went on to a 94-87 victory on Wednesday March 2
nd.
The LCC win and Tacoma's road loss at Grays Harbor has the Red Devils alone in first place at 10-2. A Lower Columbia victory at South Puget Sound on Saturday will clinch the Devils second consecutive West Region title.
The final minute of regulation featured many twist and turns. Down by three points with 1:07 left,
Sherman Royal III hit a free throw to get within two. His second freebie was missed and
Kyle Gruhler came up with a big offensive rebound. That led to
Ky-mani Pollard's lay-in with :57 second left, tied at 80-80. Ricky Bell of Highline missed a short shot with :31 left and the Devils had the ball with a chance to run down the clock and get a shot to win. Earl Lee snuck up behind Pollard and got the steal but then turned it right back to the Devils.
Emanuel Steward's three-pointer was missed and Highline got the ball with 0.9 second left. Lee's length of the court pass went untouched out of bounds and LCC had time for one last shot under their own basketball. They never got a shot as Kenny Curtis got the steal and it was off to overtime.
Highline hit the first shot of OT, but LCC then outscored the T-Birds the rest of the way. Gruhler's three was a key shot of the overtime.
Playing in perhaps his final game at home, Royal had a monster game for LCC. He scored 25 points with 12 rebounds. Steward was also clutch with a game-high 28 points and four assists.
Gruhler also had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Dakota Reber had 11 points and seven rebounds coming off the bench.
Curtis had 20 to lead Highline.
LCC needs to win one of two final regular season games to wrap up the West title. The Devils will be in Olympia on Saturday March 5
th for a 3 pm game with the South Puget Sound Clippers. The league final will be Wednesday March 9
th at Grays Harbor.
