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Feb. 25—Climbing a ladder to cut off a piece of the net with purple scissors surrounded by a sea of students chanting each of their victorious Bengals' names, another trophy finding its purple-and-gold home and a state tournament berth — all for the second year in a row.
Yeah, Lewiston could certainly get used to this.
Behind a 49-point second half, the Lewiston boys basketball team left any notion of this game — which they trailed by three at halftime — going any other way in the distant past.
Senior guard Royce Fisher tallied a career-high point total for the second straight contest and the Bengals beat the Sandpoint Bulldogs 72-54 to win the 5A Inland Empire League district tournament championship on Tuesday at Lewiston High School.
"Feels great to do it twice," said Lewiston senior center Mason Way. "We deserve it. We've been working all season, but now we're ready for State."
For the Bengals to get back to State, they needed to buy in to the program, Lewiston coach Brooks Malm said.
"This senior class won four Golden Thrones in a row. They've won two Avista Tournament titles. They just won back-to-back league titles," said Malm, wearing the remainder of the clipped net around his neck. "This senior class and the guys on this team, they've built this program. I'm so grateful. That's how I feel — so grateful and blessed."
No loss of confidence
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The Bengals began this contest quite similarly to how last week's meeting with Sandpoint and districts win over Moscow began: Fisher made some baskets.
The senior shooter found himself at the foul line following his first make for a traditional 3-point play, then made a modern 3-pointer soon after.
However, Sandpoint ensured that its two-hour drive south would not lack drama.
As the Bengals' missed shots began to add up, Sandpoint capitalized at the other end of the floor.
The Bulldogs got a few buckets to carve out an 8-0 run. Knox Williams' 3-point shot gave Sandpoint an 8-6 lead before Blaze Hepburn broke a multi-minute scoring drought for Lewiston with a 3 of his own.
The Bulldogs appeared capable of weaving through the Lewiston defense, at one point zipping the ball all over the floor until they found Logan Iverson wide open under the rim to gain a 13-11 lead.
Fisher capped the quarter with the second of his game-high five 3-pointers and Lewiston led 14-13.
Sandpoint's persistence carried over to the second quarter.
While the Bengals went into the locker room at intermission down on the scoreboard, Hepburn, who sank three of his four 3-pointers in the second half, said the Bengals had not lost their confidence.
"I know I'm a shooter. I'll never stop shooting," Hepburn said. "And I think coach Malm's helped me with that throughout my high school career, getting it in my head that 'shooters don't stop.'"
The Bengals roared back to life in the third quarter with Walker tying the game at 28 apiece with a 3 and Fisher, a Lewis-Clark State basketball commit, sinking a layup over a defender's head to give the Bengals the 30-29 lead.
Fisher finished with a career-high 35 points off of 11 made baskets and an 8-of-12 mark from the free-throw line.
Walker posted 16 points — most of which came in the second half to help make that one-point third quarter lead an 18-point advantage by the final buzzer.
Malm said that he felt like the Bengals were good in both halves, but did a much better job of making simple baskets in the second half than they did in the first.
"We had a few plays where we were pretty undisciplined, pretty unfundamentally sound, and that cost us, whether it was a possession or points going the other way," Malm said. "In the second half ... we didn't have anybody trying to do it alone. And in turn, the ball started spinning around and zipping around, and passes were connecting, hitting guys in the hands, and then from there we were able to play."
'All-American in my role'
At some point last season, Way said that his coaches told him that his defensive skills were how he was going to get onto the court.
So, he took it to heart and on Tuesday night, Way "played his absolute tail off," as Malm put it.
Daily headlines, straight to your inboxRead it online first and stay up-to-date, delivered daily at 7 AM
"He was super disruptive. He caused chaos. He sprinted back in transition defense, which isn't a statistic, but it just saved us so many points," Malm said. "He did so much tonight. He was unbelievable."
Late in the second quarter, Fisher missed a free throw and Way hustled to grab it.
What followed was an around-the-horn clinic as Way whipped the ball outside to Fisher in the right corner, who chucked it to Jordan Walker, who passed it to Hepburn, who found Brady Rudolph in the right corner for 3 that cut Sandpoint's lead to 25-24.
"I'm just trying to be an All-American in my role," Way said. "I mean, we got guys that can score, so I just need to go out there, do my part."
Way, Malm said, is a great example of the Bengals' team culture.
"Those guys right there, that's why he does it," Malm said, gesturing to Fisher, Walker and Hepburn, who sat several rows down in the bleachers for a live radio interview with 105.1 The River broadcaster Austin Samuels. "He'll do anything for his teammates. He's a great kid. He's a guy that you want to have on your team."
Boise-bound again
The Bengals' journey back to the state tournament didn't begin in November or August.
It started in March after the Bengals dropped two straight games at State to end their season.
Player after player credited the work that the Bengals put in in the offseason as vital to the team reaching this milestone again.
"We hang out a lot and we're really close off the court, and so that really helps with our chemistry," said Walker. "And none of us miss a workout."
The Bengals learned what is demanded of them with their first state tournament appearance in eight years.
Now, the Bengals are back — and the reason why is obvious to everyone in the purple and gold.
"Everybody loves everybody in this locker room," Malm said. "There's no hidden agendas, like everybody genuinely is happy to go out there, get their minutes and play the role that they've been given."
A trip to the Boise area — Meridian for the first few rounds and Nampa for the championship of Class 5A tournament action to be specific — could be pretty enthralling.
The bright lights, the hotel, an In-N-Out just down the street.
So, what is Fisher looking forward to?
"Looking forward to winning the first game and getting to Ford Idaho Center and winning the whole thing," Fisher said. "That's what I'm looking forward to."
SANDPOINT (11-12)
Colton Dickinson 0 0-0 0, Knox Williams 3 0-0 7, Logan Iverson 2 0-0 5, Brock Yarbrough 3 2-5 9, Alec Lieuallen 0 0-0 0, Derrick Chamberlain 5 2-2 12, Tyler Weisz 2 1-2 5, Logan Roos 5 1-2 11, Caiden Gion 2 0-0 5, Asher Nieman 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 6-11 54.
LEWISTON (20-3)
Royce Fisher 11 8-12 35, Jordan Walker 7 0-0 16, Peyton Walker 0 0-0 0, Drew Haines 0 0-0 0, Brady Rudolph 2 0-0 5, Blaze Hepburn 4 0-0 12, Mason Way 1 2-2 4. Totals 25 10-14 72.
Sandpoint 13 13 7 21—54
Lewiston 14 9 20 29—72
3-point goals — Williams, Iverson, Yarbrough, Gion, Fisher 5, Hepburn 4, Walker 2, Rudolph.
Taylor can be reached at 208-848-2260, [email protected], or on X or Instagram @Sam_C_Taylor.
Continue reading...
Yeah, Lewiston could certainly get used to this.
Behind a 49-point second half, the Lewiston boys basketball team left any notion of this game — which they trailed by three at halftime — going any other way in the distant past.
Senior guard Royce Fisher tallied a career-high point total for the second straight contest and the Bengals beat the Sandpoint Bulldogs 72-54 to win the 5A Inland Empire League district tournament championship on Tuesday at Lewiston High School.
"Feels great to do it twice," said Lewiston senior center Mason Way. "We deserve it. We've been working all season, but now we're ready for State."
For the Bengals to get back to State, they needed to buy in to the program, Lewiston coach Brooks Malm said.
"This senior class won four Golden Thrones in a row. They've won two Avista Tournament titles. They just won back-to-back league titles," said Malm, wearing the remainder of the clipped net around his neck. "This senior class and the guys on this team, they've built this program. I'm so grateful. That's how I feel — so grateful and blessed."
No loss of confidence
Advertisement
The Bengals began this contest quite similarly to how last week's meeting with Sandpoint and districts win over Moscow began: Fisher made some baskets.
The senior shooter found himself at the foul line following his first make for a traditional 3-point play, then made a modern 3-pointer soon after.
However, Sandpoint ensured that its two-hour drive south would not lack drama.
As the Bengals' missed shots began to add up, Sandpoint capitalized at the other end of the floor.
The Bulldogs got a few buckets to carve out an 8-0 run. Knox Williams' 3-point shot gave Sandpoint an 8-6 lead before Blaze Hepburn broke a multi-minute scoring drought for Lewiston with a 3 of his own.
The Bulldogs appeared capable of weaving through the Lewiston defense, at one point zipping the ball all over the floor until they found Logan Iverson wide open under the rim to gain a 13-11 lead.
Fisher capped the quarter with the second of his game-high five 3-pointers and Lewiston led 14-13.
Sandpoint's persistence carried over to the second quarter.
While the Bengals went into the locker room at intermission down on the scoreboard, Hepburn, who sank three of his four 3-pointers in the second half, said the Bengals had not lost their confidence.
"I know I'm a shooter. I'll never stop shooting," Hepburn said. "And I think coach Malm's helped me with that throughout my high school career, getting it in my head that 'shooters don't stop.'"
The Bengals roared back to life in the third quarter with Walker tying the game at 28 apiece with a 3 and Fisher, a Lewis-Clark State basketball commit, sinking a layup over a defender's head to give the Bengals the 30-29 lead.
Fisher finished with a career-high 35 points off of 11 made baskets and an 8-of-12 mark from the free-throw line.
Walker posted 16 points — most of which came in the second half to help make that one-point third quarter lead an 18-point advantage by the final buzzer.
Malm said that he felt like the Bengals were good in both halves, but did a much better job of making simple baskets in the second half than they did in the first.
"We had a few plays where we were pretty undisciplined, pretty unfundamentally sound, and that cost us, whether it was a possession or points going the other way," Malm said. "In the second half ... we didn't have anybody trying to do it alone. And in turn, the ball started spinning around and zipping around, and passes were connecting, hitting guys in the hands, and then from there we were able to play."
'All-American in my role'
At some point last season, Way said that his coaches told him that his defensive skills were how he was going to get onto the court.
So, he took it to heart and on Tuesday night, Way "played his absolute tail off," as Malm put it.
Daily headlines, straight to your inboxRead it online first and stay up-to-date, delivered daily at 7 AM
"He was super disruptive. He caused chaos. He sprinted back in transition defense, which isn't a statistic, but it just saved us so many points," Malm said. "He did so much tonight. He was unbelievable."
Late in the second quarter, Fisher missed a free throw and Way hustled to grab it.
What followed was an around-the-horn clinic as Way whipped the ball outside to Fisher in the right corner, who chucked it to Jordan Walker, who passed it to Hepburn, who found Brady Rudolph in the right corner for 3 that cut Sandpoint's lead to 25-24.
"I'm just trying to be an All-American in my role," Way said. "I mean, we got guys that can score, so I just need to go out there, do my part."
Way, Malm said, is a great example of the Bengals' team culture.
"Those guys right there, that's why he does it," Malm said, gesturing to Fisher, Walker and Hepburn, who sat several rows down in the bleachers for a live radio interview with 105.1 The River broadcaster Austin Samuels. "He'll do anything for his teammates. He's a great kid. He's a guy that you want to have on your team."
Boise-bound again
The Bengals' journey back to the state tournament didn't begin in November or August.
It started in March after the Bengals dropped two straight games at State to end their season.
Player after player credited the work that the Bengals put in in the offseason as vital to the team reaching this milestone again.
"We hang out a lot and we're really close off the court, and so that really helps with our chemistry," said Walker. "And none of us miss a workout."
The Bengals learned what is demanded of them with their first state tournament appearance in eight years.
Now, the Bengals are back — and the reason why is obvious to everyone in the purple and gold.
"Everybody loves everybody in this locker room," Malm said. "There's no hidden agendas, like everybody genuinely is happy to go out there, get their minutes and play the role that they've been given."
A trip to the Boise area — Meridian for the first few rounds and Nampa for the championship of Class 5A tournament action to be specific — could be pretty enthralling.
The bright lights, the hotel, an In-N-Out just down the street.
So, what is Fisher looking forward to?
"Looking forward to winning the first game and getting to Ford Idaho Center and winning the whole thing," Fisher said. "That's what I'm looking forward to."
SANDPOINT (11-12)
Colton Dickinson 0 0-0 0, Knox Williams 3 0-0 7, Logan Iverson 2 0-0 5, Brock Yarbrough 3 2-5 9, Alec Lieuallen 0 0-0 0, Derrick Chamberlain 5 2-2 12, Tyler Weisz 2 1-2 5, Logan Roos 5 1-2 11, Caiden Gion 2 0-0 5, Asher Nieman 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 6-11 54.
LEWISTON (20-3)
Royce Fisher 11 8-12 35, Jordan Walker 7 0-0 16, Peyton Walker 0 0-0 0, Drew Haines 0 0-0 0, Brady Rudolph 2 0-0 5, Blaze Hepburn 4 0-0 12, Mason Way 1 2-2 4. Totals 25 10-14 72.
Sandpoint 13 13 7 21—54
Lewiston 14 9 20 29—72
3-point goals — Williams, Iverson, Yarbrough, Gion, Fisher 5, Hepburn 4, Walker 2, Rudolph.
Taylor can be reached at 208-848-2260, [email protected], or on X or Instagram @Sam_C_Taylor.
Continue reading...
