Put-back at the buzzer lifts Soap Lake over Waterville

SOAP LAKE — Turnovers and an inability to use their size advantage were the difference in Waterville's loss against Soap Lake

In the first half, despite having five players listed at 6-foot-3 or taller, Waterville struggled to get the ball down low and generate quality shots. The Soap Lake defense, energized by their home crowd, was too quick for the Shockers and forced several turnovers.

Down 46-45 in the waning seconds, a missed three-pointer by Brayden Winters was rebounded by Elliott Boyd. Boyd gathered himself and scored from five feet away, lifting Soap Lake to a 47-46 win.

Soap Lake ends its season today against Bridgeport.

In the first quarter, Jackson Wilks stole the ball and Winters hit another three-pointer to put Soap Lake ahead by eight.

The Eagles rode momentum into the second quarter and took advantage of rebounds and second-chance points to take a 29-14 lead into halftime. In the second half, Coach Eric Biggar's Shockers came to play. Now, it was the Shockers who were energized, using quick hands on defense to force turnovers and moving without the ball on offense to create easy shots.

The Shockers had whittled the Eagles' lead to seven, and a score on their final possession of the third quarter would have cut it to five, but another steal and subsequent layup by Wilks left Soap Lake with a 42-33 edge after three quarters.

The Shockers pulled within seven points three minutes into the fourth quarter.

Waterville’s Taylor Riggs tied the game with 40 seconds to play.

Winters failed to connect from inside the paint on the following Soap Lake possession. Waterville's Lakin Thomsen was fouled as he drove to the hoop and went to the free throw line. He missed the first attempt, but hit the second to give the Shockers a 46-45 lead; their first since a 6-4 lead in the first quarter.