Boys lose heartbreaker as season ends

SPOKANE --- The Lind-Ritzville boys basketball team saw its season come to end last Thursday with a loss to Kettle Falls after a desperate full-court shot at the buzzer just missed. The Broncos lost 52-49 in the consolation bracket of the Northeast 2B district tournament.

The Broncos were playing in the loser-out game after falling to St. George's in the semifinals.

"Obviously we are disappointed," LRS head coach Dustin Arlt said. "Being that close to making it to regionals, that was disappointing ... The opportunity was right at the tip of our fingers and we let it slip away."

Still, Arlt stressed that his team --which finished the regular season 15-5 -- surpassed his expectations.

"If you had told me before the season that we had that good a chance to make it to regionals, I don't think I would have believed you," Arlt said."

LRS opened strong against Kettle Falls and led most of the first half. Arlt was happy with his first-half defense, but would have liked to see a little bit more out of the offense.

"We only gave up six points in the first quarter," Arlt said. "I think we had plenty of chances and could have been up 10 points. But we made a couple of shots early and then we struggled and were only up by four."

The Broncos closed the quarter up 10-6. Kettle Falls spent the second quarter chipping away at the lead and cut it to 25-23 at halftime.

The Broncos would rebuild their lead in the third quarter. A three pointer by Carson Ayers put LRS up 33-28.

The Broncos extended their lead to 37-31 with under 30 seconds remaining in the third, but back-to-back turnovers allowed the Bulldogs to close the gap fast.

First, a Kettle Falls player stole the ball and set up a successful three pointer. Then, LRS quickly moved the ball down the court but got sloppy and turned it over on a poor pass. Kettle Falls ran the court for a fast break layup as the clock ran out and the score was 37-36.

"That was frustrating." Arlt said.

The Broncos responded well and opened the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run. First, Josh McClure sank a three. The Broncos got a stop and McClure hit another three. Kettle Falls tried to respond quickly, but they turned it over and Austin Thompson took it in for a layup to make the score 45-36.

Kettle Falls took a time out. It paid off as the Bulldogs' Cade McKern responded with a three of his own. That would start McKern's stellar fourth quarter. The senior put the team on his back and scored 14 of his team's 16 fourth-quarter points himself.

The Broncos had no answer to McKern, who finished with 20 points. They were hanging on to a 49-46 lead with the ball with a minute left when another disastrous stretch occured. The Broncos turned the ball over and McKern drove to the basket and drew the foul. He made the first free throw and missed the second, but Kettle Falls got the rebound and found McKern open for a three. He sank it, and Kettle Falls suddenly led 50-49.

"They got a little scrappier than us," Arlt said.

Two Kettle Falls free-throws later, the Broncos had one more chance on a full-court shot by Spencer Gering that bounced off the rim and backboard.

Ayers led LRS with 12 points while Cole Cameron had 11.

Matthew Thompson added 10 for Kettle Falls.

While disappointed, Arlt said he wants to recognize the season as a whole was still successful.

"We finally got over the hump with this crew," Arlt said. "It's the best boys sports season we have had in any sports in four years."