The Washougal Panthers hosted their first district playoff game Saturday, but Brad Wallace and the River Ridge Hawks spoiled the party.
Wallace delivered 25 of his 30 points in the second half to lead the Hawks to a 54-51 victory in front of a packed house in the Washougal High School jungle gym.
Wallace’s game-winning 3-point basket with 1.1 second on the clock was his fifth in the half.
Washougal seniors Michael McElory and Aaron Deister each netted 15 points, and Jaden Jantzer added 10. McElory swished a buzzer beater from well behind the 3-point line to bring the Panthers within one point going into the fourth quarter. Jantzer and McElory both hit huge threes in the fourth quarter, but Washougal couldn’t hold to either one of those leads.
The Panthers face Tumwater Wednesday, at W.F. West High School in Chehalis. Washougal has to win three games in a row to reach the regional tournament. One more loss and the season is over.
Regional champions crowned
Camas and Battle Ground high school seniors Austin Miller and Sean Trenda gained a lot of respect after their 4A regional finals match Saturday, at Heritage High School.
Both wrestlers traded leads in a sizzling six-minute match. The hoots and hollers from the crowd only threw gas on the fire.
Miller lost his advantage in the third round, but gained it back when he grabbed Trenda’s head and leg and nearly pinned him. Trenda fought back up to a standing position and took Miller down, but then the time expired. Miller held on for a 13-11 victory. Both wrestlers hugged in the center of the circle.
Camas junior Tye Lommasson beat heavily favored Joseph Deamatto of Skyline 6-3 for the 126-pound championship medal. Miller followed with his 132-championship victory to make it 2-for-2 for the Papermakers.
Washougal’s Erin Locke pinned Montesano’s Rebecca Odegard for the 130-pound girls regional championship Saturday, at Battle Ground High School. Sara Sanchez earned second place, Jessica Biron followed in third, Tara Duey finished in fourth and Jessica Eakins took fifth. Katelyn Purkeypyle and Yaneli Martinez are both sixth-place state alternates.
Bryant Elliott and Dakota Safford earned fourth place in their brackets to move on to state for Camas. Vince Huber settled for fifth place and Andrew Duffy grabbed sixth place. Zac Oster, Tanner Baldwin and Jesse Reagan are going to state for Washougal.
Good day for siblings
Three sets of Washougal and Camas siblings are on their way to the Mat Classic Friday and Saturday, inside the Tacoma Dome.
Stephen and Haven Camden are going back to state for Washougal, while Wyatt and Jessica Eakins both qualified for the first time. Camas senior Taryn Lommasson earned third place to go along with the championship medal won by her brother Tye.
More basketball notes
Brenna Khaw racked up 23 points for the Camas girls basketball team Friday, but Union held on for a 60-55 victory in the semifinals of the 4A district tournament. Sierra Brown added 12 points for the Papermakers and Lauren Neff netted nine.
Union defeated Skyview 56-44 for the district championship Saturday. Camas takes the No. 3 seed into the bi-district tournament next week.
A rough start doomed the Washougal girls basketball team in the first round of the 2A district playoffs Friday, at River Ridge High School. The Hawks capitalized for a 54-38 victory.
Washougal goes up against Centralia Tuesday, at W.F. West High School, in Chehalis. The Panthers have to win three games in a row next week to advance to the regional tournament. One more loss and their season is over.
Read more about all these events in Tuesday’s print edition of the Post-Record.
See you on the sidelines.
