Royal boys team with edge for district berth

ROYAL CITY — With everything that went against the Royal Knights this year, you might think they have no chance of making the SCAC district basketball tournament.

But, with three games left on the schedule, Royal (3-4) is one-half a game ahead of Burbank and River View (both 3-5) in the chase for the third and fourth berths at districts.

The Knights got into this position by topping Burbank once and Wahluke twice. As Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis used to say, all the Knights need to do now “is just win, baby.”

Coach Peter Christensen wishes things were that simple. His boys got over the long football season and some early-season lethargy, but now they are hurting.

“We have had to bring up several players (Juan Ojeda, Logan Gilbert, Gage Christensen, Jaimen Smith) due to injury,” coach Christensen said. “These young ones played hard both days last weekend.”

Christensen hopes to have one or two of the injured players back for the final charge, which starts Friday at River View. Burbank will come calling on Saturday, and Royal will be at Kiona-Benton next Friday.

Burbank plays at Wahluke tonight before closing out here on Friday. After Royal’s visit this Friday, River View will close with a visit from Connell.

In their last SCAC East contest, the ailing Knights were trampled by unbeaten SCAC East leader Connell, 90-67. With the new lineups, Christensen was happy with the 67 points.

“Even in the loss, we were able to score well, but we were outmanned on defense,” he said.

Three of the early season starters led the way. Kaden Jenks scored 27 points, Carson Gilbert had 18, and Owen Ellis had 14. Jenks led in rebounds with 10.