Rosalia, Colton roll to Spokane in quest of first title

Colton and Rosalia boys will shoot for their schools’ first ever state basketball title when they take the court today at Spokane Veterans’ Memorial Arena.

Both teams advanced to the final eight in the 1B tournament after sweeping through regional rounds last weekend.

“I think we both showed a lot over the weekend,” said Coach Seth Payne. “Outside of our own locker rooms, I don’t think anyone gave District 9 a shot at the title.”

Spartans Scott Eberle, left, and Damien Loucks swarm Almira/Coulee/Hartline forward Thunder Wellhausen in the first period of Rosalia's 70-64 win Friday at Walla Walla High School.

Colton opens Spokane play against Columbia Adventist Academy of Battle Ground, which advanced after topping Lummi in the regional round at Timberline High School.

-photo by Jerry Morse. Colton post Taylor Spence looks to the hoop in the Wildcats' opening round win over Wellpinit Friday night at Eastmont High School in Wenatchee.

Rosalia takes on Neah Bay, a District 1 squad that advanced with a Saturday win over Northport after falling to Mount Rainer Lutheran Friday in regional play at Mountlake Terrace High School.

Wins by each squad would pit them against each other in Friday’s second round.

Colton boys overcame a number of hurdles at the regional in Eastmont High School in East Wenatchee.

Payne reported the team’s hotel reservations went awry, leaving them to bunk in the Eastmont gym.

Payne himself overcame a bout of appendicitis while leading his Wildcats to two wins. After Saturday’s game, the coach drove straight to Pullman Regional Hospital to have his appendix removed.

Payne almost got an early visit to the hospital after his squad fell behind early against Wellpinit in Friday night’s opener.

“You could tell it hit them when they finally walked on to the floor at state,” said Payne. “They played with that deer in the headlights look all half.”

With the Wildcat guards putting up blanks throughout the half, Colton trailed 17-29 after two quarters.

Colton’s Straughan brothers’ shots had a big part of the comeback. Powered by their guards, Colton pulled ahead with a 26-9 third quarter.

The Straughan brothers backcourt, Jake and Josh, combined for 22 second half points.

Post Dustin Patchen provided the steady play, putting up 24 points and 14 rebounds to help sink Wellpinit.

Saturday’s game was a much easier contest for the Wildcats. They jumped all over Moses Lake Christian Academy early and rolled to a 63-37 win.

Colton jumped out to a 14-9 first quarter lead and put the game on cruise control.

“When our first couple of shots fell, I looked over at my assistant, Ed, and said ‘I think we’re going to be alright tonight,’” said Payne.

The Straughan brothers posted 29 points.

Patchen hit 25 points, snagged 18 rebounds and blocked seven shots.

Josh Straughan fell just short of a triple-double: 15 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists.

Rosalia Friday toppled top-ranked Almira/Coulee/Hartline 70-64 in an overtime thrilla in the regional round at Walla Walla High School.

ACH jumped out quick, running and gunning to a 8-0 lead in the first quarter.

The Warriors’ run was stopped when Rosalia guard D.J. Brown chased down Brandon Boutain and swatted away his breakaway lay-in attempt. Boutain had put up all eight points off a series of Rosalia turnovers.

Brown’s block gave the Sparts a flicker of momentum heading into the second quarter. Down 5-17 after one, the Spartans rallied to close the half down 22-27.

Spartan big man Nathan Richards went to work in the second and third quarters, finding inside baskets on his way to a team-high 19 points.

ACH kept the heat on in the third, but Rosalia took off to a 23-15 fourth after gunner Casey Brown found his outside stroke.

With four minutes left, Brown canned a trey to tie it at 47-up, and followed with a go-ahead bomb on the next possession.

ACH pulled ahead with a pair of Derek Isaak free throws at 1:20.

Casey Brown missed a lay-in on the next possession, but Richards grabbed the board and plunked it to put the Sparts up 55-54.

Rosalia took the ball back, and D.J. Brown went to the line with 24 seconds left on a clock-stopping foul by Isaak. Brown sunk both his shots to put Rosalia up three.

The Warriors took the ball back and Isaak tied the game with a long-bomb that banked off the glass and through the net with 13 seconds left.

Regulation play ended with the ball pinballing around the court as both teams scrambled for possession until the buzzer sounded.

Richards broke the seal on overtime scoring with a putback of a missed Jared Hereford trey. D.J. Brown set up Scott Eberle for a high post jumper on Rosalia’s next possession to put the Spartans up 61-57.

Boutain pulled ACH within one at 38 seconds when he stole the ball and hit a pair of free throws.

Rosalia then went to the line on a series of clock fouls, canning all their free throws for the 70-64 final.

FRIDAY SCORING

Rosalia 70- Almira/Coulee/Hartline 64: 5/17 17/10 12/15 23/15 13/7: Nathan Richards 6 7-9 19, Casey Brown 4 (4-3pt.0 2-2 14, D.J. Brown 2 (2-3pt.) 4-4 10, Scott Eberle 5 0-0 10, Damien Loucks 4 2-2 10, Jared Hereford 2 1-3 5, Flash Hodges 1 0-0 2. ACH: D Isaak 7 (2-3pt.) 8-9 24, B Boutain 7 (3pt.) 0-0 15, C Jess 3 (3pt.) 1-1 8, C Deyarmin 3 (2-3pt.) 0-0 8, Thunder Wellhausen 2 (3pt.) 2-2 7, R Hurka 0 2-3 2.

Colton 66- Wellpinit 55: 8/18 9/11 26/9 23/17: Dustin Patchen 24, Josh Straughan 14, Steve Eacker 11, Taylor Spence 9, Jake Straughan 8. Wellpinit: Winne 17, Seyler 17, Wynecoop 14, Pakootas 6, Flett 1.

SATURDAY SCORING

Colton 63- Moses Lake Christian Academy 37: 14/9 20/8 18/9 11/11: Dustin Patchen 25, Josh Straughan 15, Jake Straughan 14, Steve Eacker 6, Sam Wolf 3. MCLA: Timofeyev 13, Kirkwood 7, Laszio 5, Allsbrook 3, McNamara 3, Webb 2, Murrell 2, Knopp 2.