Lions defeat Blackhawks

SPOKANE — The Lions came back after an early struggle to defeat the Lummi Blackhawks 48-39 and advance to the semi-finals of the State B Tournament Thursday.

"They just keep battling and battling and battling," said head coach Lonnie Brown. "When they work hard, good things happen for them."

In the early going, field goal woes kept Moses Lake from their normal offensive production with Riggs Yarbro being held to just 4 points.

Daniel Timofeyev got the second quarter started for the Lions, sinking a 3-ball to cut the Lummi lead to four. Then Casey Hudson found Josh Munoz in the paint for the layup and Munoz's first points of the night. Munoz finished the night as Moses Lake's leading scorer with 18 points.

"Josh played 32 minutes and led the way for the whole game," Brown said.

After the initial layup, Munoz went on a 7-point scoring drive. Phillip Friehe connected with Munoz for another layup and on the next trip down court, Munoz lit up the score board with a 3-point shot to give Moses Lake the lead.

Friehe earned a steal and Munoz a layup just before halftime to give the Lions a 21-17 lead at the break.

Munoz continued to push the offensive envelope for Moses Lake, opening the second half with a layup in traffic.

The Lions' next score, nearly two minutes later, came after Timofeyev found Yarbro down low. Nearly one minute later, Timofeyev followed up his assist with another 3-ball to stretch the lead to five.

Munoz went on another small scoring run, earning 4 points with a layup and a jump shot to make it 32-26.

In the closing minute of the third, Timofeyev fouled Lummi beyond the arc and put Lummi on the line for three shots. Lummi converted two and took the lead with a buzzer-beater 3-point shot.

"After they took the lead at the end of the third, we knew we had to come back and do what we had to do," said Munoz. "We had to get the ball inside because we were having some problems shooting from the outside."

The Lions began the final quarter of the game with a little nervousness but quickly settled back into their game plan after a three from Friehe put his team ahead by two. Friehe's bucket was the first of the quarter and came after nearly three minutes of play had elapsed.

The Blackhawks put Yarbro on the line for two and Yarbro converted both to make it 37-33. Yarbro was put on the line again and went 1-of-2.

Lummi got within three after a foul from Friehe put the Blackhawks on the line.

Munoz was able to stretch the lead back to five after converting two freethrows with under two minutes to play.

Lummi again closed the lead to three but it would be the closest the Blackhawks would get.

"Everyone did their job," said Brown.

Down the stretch, Moses Lake went to the line six times and combined to shoot 8-of-12 for the win.

The Lions face Northwest Christian at 8 p.m. tonight.

"It's exhilarating," Brown said of making it to the semi-finals. "There just are no words."