Raiders pick up big win, hold own against perennial power

Raider boys basketball found success at the Eagle Holiday Classic on Dec. 29-30 in Spokane Valley, knocking off 2A East Valley and forcing an overtime game against Colfax, a perennial 2B contender.

Raider Head Coach Matt Simpson was pleased with the way his team played and what they took away from the tournament.

“Great confidence booster in how we played as a team,” he said, adding that the games also highlighted certain areas that need improvement.

“We … need to improve balanced scoring for the whole group,” he said, “and to produce strong first- and second-half performances.”

Against the East Valley Knights, the Raiders jumped out early and scored 21 points in the first quarter. Chance Garvin scored 13 of those. LR maintained a 13-point lead into halftime.

But in the second half the Knights came roaring back, cutting the lead down to just two points with only a minute left in the game.

Jackson Louie was fouled and made both free throws to push the Raider lead to four. East Valley’s rally had ended, and the Raiders tacked on two more for the final of 58-52.

Garvin led the team with 26 points and 8 rebounds.

The next day against Colfax, the Raiders had to play catch-up to the Bulldogs, who took a 16-8 lead at the end of the first.

LR scored 20 in the second quarter to squeeze into the lead going into the locker rooms at halftime, 28-27. The second half was a see-saw struggle with both teams being knotted up to force an overtime period.

In OT, the Bulldogs had more gas left in the tank and came away the victors, 58-54.

Jackson Louie led the team in scoring with 15 points.

“Chance Garvin had 26 versus a strong East Valley team, and Jackson Louie played great versus Colfax,” Simpson noted, “but the whole team really stepped up and grew as a whole.”

Asked who has shown great improvement, Simpson said, “Jake Palmer and Austin Rosenbaum have really stepped up their rebounding for us in close games and have risen up to personal challenges we gave them to help us grow as a team and be great on-court leaders.”

After travelling to Tonasket last night, the Raiders will play two home games at Grand Coulee to close the week. Tomorrow, the Raiders take on the Brewster Bears, who are 7-1 with a 61-26 win over 2A R.A. Long of Longview. Then on Saturday the Raiders host Waterville, who come in with a winning record. Thursday’s game will start at 7:30 p.m., while Saturdays tipoff is at 5:30 p.m.

Scoring

Lake Roosevelt

Garvin 26, Jackson Louie 9, Jesse Louie 0, Nault 4, Nicholson 0, Nomee 0, Palmer 7, Picard 0, Redstar 4, Rosenbaum 8.

1 2 3 4 Final

LR 21 13 10 14 58

EV 8 13 18 13 52

Lake Roosevelt

Nault 0, Garvin 14, Palmer 7 points and 8 rebounds , Picard 3, Rosenbaum 4, Redstar 8, Jesse Louie 0, Nicholson 3, Jackson Louie 15.

Colfax

Robinson 23, Webber 2, Hall 0, Gfeller 15, Weitze 6, Lyman 7, Johnson 5, Kincaid 0.

1 2 3 4 OT Final

LR 8 20 13 5 8 54

Colfax 16 11 15 4 12 58