Knights hold off Othello in Columbia Basin barnburner
Rodney Harwood/Columbia Basin HeraldOthello shooting guard Jonathan Garza (12) drives the baseline against Royal defenders Corbin Christensen, left, and Logan Gilbert (10) during the second quarter of Tuesday's non-league game in Royal.
Rodney Harwood/Columbia Basin HeraldRoyal junior Sawyer Jenks (11) puts up a runner through the lane during the second quarter of Tuesday's non-league game against Othello.
ROYAL CITY — The Royal defensive philosophy was a simple one, “Anybody by Kyler Villarreal takes the last shot.”
Villarreal took Othello’s inbounds pass with 5.3 seconds remaining and pushed it up the left wing but was met with a wave of Royal defenders at the 3-point line as time ticked away. The Huskies senior, who finished the night with 22 points, dipped his shoulder as if to drive the lane though traffic, then kicked it wide to Jonathan Garza in the corner. Garza let fly the potential game-winner, but it bounced off the front of the rim and the Knights (11-2) held on to win Tuesday’s non-league game 60-58.
“Isaac (Ellis) was on (Villarreal) the whole game, but he was a little gassed. So I switched Corbin (Christensen) on him at the end. I told them to deny 24 the ball. They set the screen for him anyway,” Royal coach Ray Valle said of the last five seconds. “I just wanted to get it out of his hands and make somebody else beat us.”
Said Villarreal, “We didn’t have much of a set play,” he said. “My job was to take it all the way or kick it. We need to do something to get our fire back and I thought we played well tonight.
“I liked how the refs let us play and we could get after it a little bit. We had the open shot and that’s all we can ask for.”
The play of the game was actually a foul with nine seconds left with the Knights nursing a three-point lead, 60-57. Royal had a foul to give and Ellis smartly reached in and fouled Villarreal just inside the 3-point line before he could put the shot up.
The foul put Othello (3-11) on the line, rather than let them set for a 3-pointer to tie. Villarreal made one of two free throws to make it a two-point deficit, but Royal had the possession.
“Once we start scoring on offense, it gives us a lot of energy on defense,” said Royal junior Owen Ellis, who finished with a game-high 24 points. “It’s kind of the reverse for a lot of teams, but we pick it up on the defensive end when we get it rolling.
“We had a foul to give (with nine seconds left). So we let it run down a little bit, then fouled him before he gets a shot so we’re still up by one when we get the back.”
The Knights’ turnover at the other end made for some last-second dramatics, but the 1A Knights held on to beat 2A Othello in a battle of the basin.
Corbin Christensen had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Knights and Jonathan Garza had 10 points for the Huskies.
“We gave Jon the last shot and had a chance,” Othello coach Roman Pruneda said. “I thought we played hard tonight. There’s a lot more ball movement, a lot more assists. I’m proud of the guys. It takes time to put in place what we’re trying to do. Tonight meant something. We live 25 miles from each other, but we just want to get that win and keep it going.”
Othello hosts Quincy and Royal hosts River View as the action shifts back to league play on Friday.
Othello 15 14 16 13 - 58
Royal 10 11 22 17 - 60
Othello - Patrick Azevedo 2, Sam Azevedo 5, Jonathan Garza 10, Hilario Murillo 4, Kyler Villerreal 22, Trevor Hilmes 6, James Calzadillas 4, Michael Gutierrez 1. Totals: 16 8-10 58
Royal - Logan Gilbert 2, Sawyer Jenks 2, Gage Christensen 8, Corbin Christensen 18, Isaac Ellis 6, Owen Ellis 24. Totals: 15 6-10 60