Raider boys move onto regionals

After two big wins last week, the Lake Roosevelt Raiders will compete in the regional round of the state basketball tournament this week to try to advance further into the playoffs, beginning with a must-win game in East Wenatchee Saturday.

The Raiders defeated the Manson Trojans Feb. 17 in a district tournament home game that came down to the wire.

The Raiders led 26-20 at the end of the first quarter, and maintained that six-point lead, ending the first half up 37-31.

In the third quarter, Manson cut LR's lead down to two, with both teams trading three-point buckets to finish the quarter with LR leading 50-48.

Manson took a one-point lead briefly, early in the fourth, but LR took it back and held on for the dear life of their season, with the Trojans unable to sink a couple of last-minute three-point attempts and LR winning 63-60.

The Raiders played on the road Feb. 19 against the Okanogan Bulldogs, who had just lost 50-47 to Brewster on Feb. 17. 

The Raiders demolished the Bulldogs, 71-45.

The victory sends the Raiders to neutral ground at  Eastmont High School in East Wenatchee to play River View High School at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb 26 in the regional round of the state tournament.

A victory there would take the Raiders on to the next round at the Spokane Arena March 2, but a loss would put an end to their season.