Warrior boys win 1B third-place game in double overtime

SPOKANE — The ball stalled on the Pomeroy rim, wavering with the fate of a game already in its second overtime hanging in the balance.

It finally rolled off and Almira/Coulee-Hartline sophomore Hayden Loomis snatched up the biggest rebound of the game, keeping the Pirates from the offensive rebound and put-back for the potential game-winner.

Loomis was immediately fouled with 6.2 seconds left in the second overtime period of Saturday’s 1B state tournament third-place game at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. Loomis missed both free throws, but the defensive rebound proved even more crucial than the conventional three-point play he made 50 seconds earlier to give ACH a two-point lead.

ACH held on to beat Pomeroy 62-61 to win its last game of the season and bring home the third-place trophy. It’s not the one they set out to win, but with Friday night’s 47-41 loss to Lummi Nation in the semifinals, it was the best they could do.

“This trophy means a lot to me, because it shows we got heart in our young guys and drive in our older guys,” said Payton Nielsen, who finished with 16 rebounds and eight points. “To be able to bounce back after the loss and win in double overtime is pretty special.”

The lead changed hands three times in the final minute of the second overtime, Loomis came up with a big offensive rebound and was fouled making the basket. The free throw gave ACH a 60-58 lead with 55 seconds remaining. But in a game where no lead was safe, Pomeroy post Jacob Tewalt buried a 3-pointer from the corner to give the Pirates (21-4) a 61-60 lead with 40 seconds.

Warrior sophomore Maguire Isaak missed two free throws to ice the game in regulation, but came through in the clutch with a runner off the glass with 10 seconds left. Loomis’ rebound kept the lead from changing hands one more time and the Warriors (24-3), who saw their 22-game winning streak end the night before, closed it out to a standing ovation from the ACH fanbase.

“I felt really focused for this game and I came out and played,” said Loomis, who finished with 14 points and four rebounds. “With the defensive rebound I told myself I need to go up and get this board. I was pretty hyped about that.”

ACH was just 10-of-21 from the free-throw line. Isaak had a chance to seal the deal in regulation. Nielsen missed a couple at the end of the first overtime. But in the end, the Warriors did enough to come out one more point than the other guys when it mattered.

“We struggled quite a bit because we were very tired. Pomeroy was very strong. That’s a group of kids that’s found the weight room,” ACH coach Graham Grindy said. “It’s fun to see our young guys step up. Loomis came through in the end when it was next man up.”

Sophomore Gage Burchill had a team-high 19 points. Loomis had 14 and Isaak added 11.

“This shows what we can do when we play together,” Burchill said. “This means a lot to me and shows what our young guys can do for next year.”

Rodney Harwood is a sports writer for the Columbia Basin Herald and can be reached at rharwood@columbiabasinherald.com

Score by quarters

ACH 11 9 14 15 5 8 - 62

Pomeroy 13 13 10 13 5 7 - 61

ACH - Hayden Loomis 14, Maguire Isaak 11, Gage Burchill 19, Charles Hunt 6, Timmy Hahn 4, Payton Nielsen 8. Totals - Field goals: 21. 3-point goals: 10. Free throws: 10-21. Score: 62

Pomeroy - Ryan Wolf 9, Jace Gwinn 13, Cort Lamunyan 10, Devon Caruso 6, Oscar Morfin 2, Jacob Tewalt 9, Hogan Heyvelt 12. Totals - Field goals: 24. 3-point goals: 4. Free throws: 9-14. Score: 61