BOYS PREP BASKETBALL: Tri Cities Prep 45, WARDEN 43

Slow starts, strong finishes, and a lot of everything in between

meant for a topsy-turvy opener for the Warden Cougars in their

semifinal contest yesterday at the Moses Lake Christian Academy

Christmas Tournament.

The Cougars struggled to sustain any serious rhythm at any point

of the game and yet still found themselves with a chance to pull

out a win over the Tri Cities Prep Jaguars.

Slow starts, strong finishes, and a lot of everything in between meant for a topsy-turvy opener for the Warden Cougars in their semifinal contest yesterday at the Moses Lake Christian Academy Christmas Tournament.

The Cougars struggled to sustain any serious rhythm at any point of the game and yet still found themselves with a chance to pull out a win over the Tri Cities Prep Jaguars.

However, two last gasp shots were denied the promised land and the Cougars fell 45-43.

"If there is one thing that we have learned about this team, is that we can play with anyone," Warden head coach Wes Richins said. "Now we need to believe that we can beat anyone."

Today, Warden (1-6) will play Bridgeport at 4:30 p.m. in the consolation final, while the Jaguars take on the host Lions at 7:30 p.m. for the championship.

It took the Cougars some time to get going as they committed two turnovers and missed their first six shots in the first three-plus minutes before a Marcelo Pruneda three-pointer got them on the board at 4:13 and down 4-3.

Slowly the Cougars' superior athleticism took over as the quarter progressed and behind some steals and second chance opportunities they would lead 9-5 at the end of the quarter.

Trent Bates and Conrad Ruge both scored on transition layups following forced turnovers.

Despite the strong end to the period, Warden fell back into a rut to start the second quarter, missing their first three shots and committing three turnovers in their first half dozen possessions as the Jaguars came back to take an 11-9 lead with 5:04 remaining.

An Edison Zhu putback at 3:54 ended the Tri Cities Prep run and tied the score at 11.

A couple of interior shots and a last second Trent Bates jumper gave Warden a 17-14 halftime lead.

After halftime the Cougars continued their trend of slow starts in quarters as the Jaguars battled back to take a 21-18 lead at the 4:50 mark.

A Victor Flores trey 21 seconds later knotted the game at 21.

In the first three quarters of the game, Warden was outscored 12-4 in each periods' first four minutes combined.

"With the holidays we played a lot of guys and looked at some different combinations," Richins said. "This might have made us a little sluggish at times, but truth be told our support guys really stepped it up and played well."

Despite their slow starts the Cougars were within striking range after the third quarter, thanks to a Jesse trey at the 1:24 mark and a Flores layup a minute later that tied things up at 28-28.

In the fourth quarter the Cougars came out strong this time and behind layup by Garritt Marks and Bates led 32-28 in the first two minutes.

Warden would lead 36-35 but the Jaguars clawed back and behind some tough shooting claimed a 39-36 lead inside the two-minute mark.

Jesse would score on a layup as he was fouled with 1:41 left but then missed the subsequent free throw and Warden still trailed 39-38.

TCP would then hit three straight at the charity stripe to lead 42-38.

Flores would counter with a runner off of the left baseline and Richins called timeout with his team down 42-40 with 1:01 remaining.

Warden would get an opportunity to tie or take the lead with under 40 seconds left but a turnover and a Jaguars layup moments later gave Prep a 44-40 lead.

Flores hit a three-pointer at the 15.4 mark and Warden was within one as Richins once again called time.

"I told our players, 'someone needs to step it up and go ahead and be the hero, do something that you can tell your kids about when your old,' Richins said.

Instead, Richins may have aged a bit faster as the Cougars then fouled Bailey Rivas who made one of two free throws before Warden would have one last chance to tie or win. But a layup attempt by Marks and a buzzer-beating three by Flores were denied by the rim as the Jaguars escaped.

"We had some good looks down the stretch, with the ball in the hands of our go to guys," Richins said. "We just couldn't get it in the basket."

Flores led Warden with 12 points and seven rebounds while Jesse ended up with nine points.

Bates led the Cougars with eight rebounds.

Warden was plagued by 20 turnovers and shot only 33 percent from the field, including a 4-for-21 performance from the line.

"We have to continue to give ourselves a chance to win, we just need to step it up and play harder, and good things will come our way," Richins said. "This is all in preparation for league, We can definitely make a run if we continue to improve and believe in one another."