Lind-Ritzville boys blow lead, drop into consolation bracket

by Neil Pierson<br>Herald Sports Editor
| February 29, 2008 8:00 PM

Lady Broncos knocked out of title contention on last-second shot

SPOKANE - A nine-point halftime lead wasn't enough for the Lind-Ritzville boys basketball team on Thursday, as Riverside Christian pulled out a 55-49 victory in the quarterfinals of the 2B state tournament at Spokane Arena.

The Broncos (22-7) led 20-12 after one quarter and 30-21 at the half, but the Crusaders rallied to take the lead with five minutes to go. Riverside Christian got a huge game out of senior guard Chris Pynch, who tallied seven of his 18 points in the fourth period. He also had six rebounds.

The Crusaders nailed four crucial free throws down the stretch and got 19 points from senior Jered Cates. Riverside Christian hit 17 foul shots to Lind-Ritzville's eight.

The loss moves Lind-Ritzville into the consolation bracket today at 4 p.m. The Broncos face Wahkiakum, a 56-51 loser to Toutle Lake, and must win to earn a trophy.

Bronco guard Jamie Stevenson had a game-high 20 points, but 16 came in the first half. Alex Pfeifer added 13 points, and Matt Saetre scored eight.

Riverside Chr. 12 9 18 16 -55

Lind-Ritzville 20 10 11 8 -49

RIVERSIDE CHRISTIAN (55): C. Pynch 18, Byrne 0, Crockett 6, Hargrave 0, Cates 19, Doornink 6, Allan 6.

LIND-RITZVILLE (49): Maier 0, Pfeifer 13, Stevenson 20, Whitmore 6, Saetre 8, S. Olson 0, Kiesz 2.

Girls

Mossyrock 40, Lind-Ritzville 38

SPOKANE - Mossyrock's Hannah Pomeroy scored on a short jumper with 3.3 seconds remaining, lifting the Vikings to a quarterfinal win over the Broncos in Thursday's late game.

Pomeroy's basket was her only points of the game, but they completed Mossyrock's comeback from an early 7-0 deficit.

Lind-Ritzville, which dropped to 23-5, faces Liberty Bell in the consolation round at 4 p.m. today. The Broncos can still finish as high as fourth if they win. Liberty Bell lost 48-36 to Napavine in the quarterfinals.

Danielle Sackmann paced the Broncos with nine points. Devon Killian, Stephany Steinberger and Laura Cain all chipping in six apiece.

Lind-Ritzville 9 8 10 11 -38

Mossyrock 4 14 11 11 -40

LIND-RITZVILLE (38): Cole 1, Bouwman 5, Saetre 0, Sackmann 9, Fowles 2, Arlt 3, Killian 6, Steinberger 6, Cain 6.

MOSSYROCK (40): Petrino 12, Jones 0, Jacobson 2, Pomeroy 2, Belcher 17, Swayze 0, Beairsto 7.