The Panthers held on to clinch second place in the Class 2A Greater St. Helens League.
Washougal will host a district playoff game on Saturday against River Ridge of Lacey, the first time in school history that the Panthers have played a playoff game on their home court.
Washougal (14-6, 6-2) beat R.A. Long by 35 points on Jan. 18 in Washougal, but Tuesday’s win in Longview didn’t come easy.
R.A. Long (3-17, 0-8) led 41-40 midway through the third quarter, and the game was in doubt until Mike McElroy hit two free throws to put Washougal up five in the closing seconds to render insignificant a Lumberjacks 3-pointer in the final seconds.
“We didn’t have our best game tonight. But we got a win and that’s what we came up here to do,” Washougal coach Malcom Estes said. “(R.A. Long) really played a good game.”
Aaron Diester scored 14 of his team-high 16 points in the first half for Washougal. McElroy finished with 13 points and Sean Guthrie scored 12.
WASHOUGAL 59, R.A LONG 57
WASHOUGAL — Mike McElroy 13, Josh Banks 0, Regan Townsend 0, Cole Crosby 0, Sean Guthrie 12, Austin Tran 4, Nate Adams 6, Yoro Bah 0, Patrick Jones 0, Jaden Jantzer 8, Aaron Deister 16. Totals 21 (7) 10-14 59.
R.A. LONG — Bryce Eisele 4, Payton Miller 5, Brady Hulings 14, Vasquez 5, Jacob Johnston 6, Matt Fugleberg 4, Owen Bertram 5, Morgan Baker 8, Nolan Luedke 5, O’Brien 1. Totals 23 (3) 8-10 57.
Washougal 20 14 7 18–59
R.A. Long 13 16 10 18–57
JV — Washougal 55-35. C — R.A. Long won.
