Slow-starting Raiders lose to Billygoats

Chance Garvin scored all three of the Raiders’ first-quarter points at Pateros last Friday as LR went on to lose to the Billygoats in a low scoring affair, 47-38.

Head Coach Jeff Brisbois said the team’s overall game effort was down.

“We came out flat and never got back into the game,” Brisbois said. “It’s like we lost what spark we had from the win Monday,” referring to the LR victory over Entiat, who had beaten Pateros.

The first quarter finished with the score Pateros 5, LR 3. The scoring heated up in the second quarter as the Pateros shooters began hitting threes. Justus DeWinker chimed in a three of his own to tie up the game at nine. The game went tit for tat until the score tied up at 16 and the Billygoats went on a 10-0 run to lead first half 26-16.

For most of the third quarter the Raiders continued to have trouble containing the Pateros shooters. Rebounding troubles continued, too. The Billygoats kept possessions alive on the offensive end and cut the Raiders short defensively. Towards the end of the third, the Raiders went on a scoring streak, but the Billygoats still had the clear advantage 34-25. During the third quarter, play was suspended as a Lake Roosevelt fan was ejected from the game for comments made toward the officials and players.

Drew Saxon opened the fourth quarter with a three as the Raiders continued a scoring run. It was cut short as the Billygoats played a tough, tenacious style of defense that stymied the Raiders. LR also got into foul trouble.

Justus DeWinkler and Austin Rosenbaum both provided late excitement for the Raiders with steals for baskets, but in the end the Raiders dropped another tough game despite opportunities to win.

Coach Brisbois hopes to improve team confidence “in finishing games, halves, quarters,” he said.

For last nights game at Mansfield, Coach Brisbois hoped to rebuild morale and shooting percentages in Mansfield (2-2) last night, then face Waterville and Omak on Friday and Saturday.

“We need to play a solid game all the way through and not get lost out there on the court,” the coach said.

The Waterville Shockers come to Gailord Nelson Gym at LRHS Friday at 7:30 p.m. with a 4-2 record, including wins over Liberty Bell, Manson, and Bridgeport. The Raiders will travel to Omak for a 7:30 p.m. game on Saturday against a 3-4 Pioneers squad that has beat Liberty Bell, Oroville, and Pateros.