Boys basketball tops Colfax, 57-52

RITZVILLE - Seniors led the way as the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague boys basketball team defeated Colfax 57-52 on Tuesday. Austin Thompson scored 21 points and had the game winning basket for the Broncos as he and three other seniors played their final game at Gilson Gym.

The Broncos had a shaky first quarter. They stuck with Colfax early, trailing at one point 10-8, before giving up a run to fall behind 20-8. Thompson then scored back-to-back baskets, including a three pointer, to make the score 20-13.

The Broncos kept rolling. They finished the half on a 20-6 run to lead 28-26 at halftime.

"We came out and didn't hit some shots early," head coach Dustan Arlt said. "But then we came back. I was pleased. We got down more than 10 points in the first quarter but we came back and led at halftime."

The game went back and forth in the second half. With just under 30 seconds remaining in the game, the Broncos trailed by 1, with the ball. The Broncos missed a jump shot and the Bulldogs rebounded the ball.

As the Bulldogs moved the ball up the court, the Broncos' Drew Kelly tipped a pass into the hands of Thompson, who broke away for a layup to put the Broncos up 53-52 as time expired. Or so everyone thought. Despite the buzzer sounding, the officials ruled the clock should have stopped and put 2.5 seconds back on the clock.

Colfax hit the ceiling with the ball when trying to inbound the ball and LRS was awarded two technical free-throws. When it was all said and done, LRS actually scored four more points during the added 2.5 seconds and held on to win.

"This is the happiest I have been with this team for some time," Arlt said.

Spencer Gering, Thompson's fellow senior, had 15 points.

One night earlier, the Broncos defeated Upper Columbia 67-54. Thompson led the Broncos in that game as well with 15 points.

On Jan. 29, the Broncos beat St. John-Endicott/LaCrosse 79-35. Thompson scored 19 points off of five made 3-pointers to lead the Broncos.

The Broncos now have to wait and see if they will clinch the No. 2 or No. 3 seed in next week's district tournament at West Valley High School. The No. 2 seed would mean a first-round bye.