Royal basketball boys split

ROYAL CITY - The Royal High Knights knocked off River View, 67-59, on Friday but fell to Burbank, 55-45, on Saturday and, as a result, will face a road game to start the upcoming boys district basketball tournament.

First, Royal will have a regular-season finale with Kiona-Benton here next Friday. A victory could give them third place. A loss will give them fourth place and a district opener at high-flying Zillah.

The Knights have already qualified for the district tournament. All that is left to be decided is seeding.

The Knights warmed up for the weekend with a surprisingly easy 63-43 non-league romp over 2A Othello on Tuesday last week.

Othello had the first-quarter lead at 14-10, but then Royal turned up the speed and shooting, leading 28-24 at the half. The Knights shot 48 percent on 2-point field goals.

Chase Christensen led the scoring with 19 points. Teddy Mead scored 11, and Jonathan Partida added 10.

Mead led with eight rebounds. Kaden Jenks had six, and Chase Christensen, Aaron Johnson and Partida had five each.

On Friday, the Knights jumped on RV for a 23-15 lead after one quarter and maintained control despite a fourth quarter rally by the Panthers.

"We played very well for 28 minutes of the game building, a 20-point lead in the third quarter," coach Pete Christensen said. "We caved a little to their pressure in the fourth but were able to hold on for a quality win. It was an exciting game."

Chase Christensen led the scoring with 23 points, but Riley Lefler had the big overall nights. He came up one assist short of a triple double. He scored 10 points, pulled down 11 rebounds and handed out nine assists.

Meanwhile, Jenks clamped down on one of RV's leading scorers. Mead and Peyton Stakkeland plugged up the middle.

Chase's total tied his season best scoring output. Jonathan Partida hit some timely baskets.

"Aaron Johnson didn't score much, but he played very well on the defensive side of the court," Pete Christensen said.

The loss to Burbank was tough to swallow. The Knights had won the first meeting with the Coyotes and went to the second still competing for first place.

"Some things just weren't meant to be," Pete Christensen said. "Once again our shooting got in the way. We didn't shoot terribly but we didn't shoot well enough to beat the league leader."

The Knights were good from 2-point land, hitting 45 percent of their shots. But they attempted only 33 while shooting 19 three-pointers and making only two.

"It wasn't for lack of effort," coach Christensen said. "The boys competed hard."

Chase Christensen led the scoring Against Burbank with 18 points, and he made two assists. Lefler made eight assists, and Mead corralled six rebounds.

"We are headed into districts, and we are looking forward to the possibilities," coach Christensen added.