Eagles improve to 3-0 with win over Pateros

SOAP LAKE — The Eagles dominated in transition during Tuesday’s 86-26 win over Pateros, forcing Billygoat turnovers early in the game to jump out to an impressive lead.

“It was all the fastbreak points and us moving the ball,” Soap Lake senior Andrey Sushik said. “I feel like we could have moved the ball a little better on moving the ball and a little on defense, but overall I think we played good.”

Sushik scored 10 of the first 12 Eagle points, jumpstarting the Soap Lake offense that scored 17 points in the first quarter. Most of the Soap Lake points in the first quarter came off of Pateros turnovers, forcing Billygoat defenders to play in the paint.

“(Sushik’s) a workhorse, he’ll beat anybody in our league down the floor,” Simon said. “If teams aren’t getting back, he’s going to have a big night every time.”

“I was feeling good running the floor,” Sushik said. “I used my speed to get those fastbreak points and I tried my best and hustled.”

With the added pressure of Soap Lake playing well in transition and under the rim forcing Pateros to turn their attention there on defense, open looks from beyond the arc started to get open; Soap Lake connected on nine three-pointers from the second quarter on.

“When we were passing the ball up court (Pateros) was collapsing since we were making all of our points down underneath, so we were able to toss it out for a quick three,” Sushi said. “Shots were sinking.”

    Soap Lake junior Ruvium Goloborodko (23) brings the ball up the floor in transition against Pateros on Tuesday.
  

As the game progressed, Soap Lake continued to take advantage of defensive breakdowns by the Billygoats; the Eagles led 69-17 at the end of the third quarter, scoring 31 points in a third frame highlighted by senior Pavlo Stoyan scoring 17 of his 21 points.

“We like to play in transition, but you saw in the second half when things started to break down, the ball started moving a lot better,” Simon said. “We were playing at a frantic pace, and then settled into it throughout the game.”

After giving up 61 points to Tekoa-Rosalia and 59 points to Republic, the Eagles surrendered a season-low 26 points Tuesday night. Offensively, Soap Lake is averaging 88.3 points per game.

“The defensive effort was really good tonight,” Sushi said. “We worked really good as a team, everybody had their own position and everybody was doing their job correctly.”

    Soap Lake senior Trey Landdeck (3) attempts a jump shot in the fourth quarter against Pateros.
  

Seven of the eight players on Soap Lake’s roster scored Tuesday night with Stoyan (21 points), Sushik (20), junior Ruvium Goloborodko (16) and senior Trey Landdeck (11) all finishing in double figures.

“That’s what I love about this team; so many weapons, we’re going to trade off nights of who has the big night,” Simon said. “Our role players made big plays.”

Soap Lake returns to the floor Friday night on the road against riverside Christain. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.

“We feel good, we’re just trying not to get complacent,” Simon said. “We want to keep executing everything we can, and getting ready for those big league games.”

Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.

Box score

PT: 6-7-4-9 17
SL: 17-21-31-17 86

    Soap Lake junior Jairo Lopez, in white, keeps his eyes on the rim while jumping in the air before making a basket against Pateros.