King’s Way Christian boys basketball turned back a gritty Kalama team 61-58 on Wednesday to earn a key win in the race for the Class 1A Trico League’s four district playoff berths.
The Knights (12-5, 5-5) are alone in fourth place with four games to play.
Kalama (8-9, 4-7) is among three teams tied for fifth with three games to play.
Kalama’s Abel Koski led all scorers with 23 points despite playing with a broken pinkie finger. He helped the Chinooks rally from 14 points down late in the third quarter to tie the game in the final minute.
“Super proud even though we lost,” Kalama coach Wes Armstrong said. “Abel also played a phenomenal game. One of the toughest kids I know.”
Patrick Carney scored 17 points and hit two 3-pointers in the first quarter, which ended with the Knights ahead 17-8.
Jackson Lovato added 15 points while Radley Matson-Blighton and Reese Johnson each scored 12 points for King’s Way.
FORT VANCOUVER 64, CASTLE ROCK 44 — Isaiah Barajas scored 15 points as the Trappers earned a 1A Trico League win at home.
Leighton Livengood scored 13 points and Isaiah Gonzalez added 12 points for Fort Vancouver (14-4, 9-2).
The Trappers can clinch second place in the Trico League with one win in their three remaining games.
Owen Keatley scored 11 points to lead Castle Rock (9-8, 4-7).
LA CENTER 92, STEVENSON 60 — Logan Rainey scored 22 points as the Wildcats rolled to a 1A Trico league win on the road.
La Center outscored Stevenson 23-5 in the first quarter and finished with a flurry, scoring 30 points in the fourth.
Kaden Kohn scored 17 points and Parker McKinney added 16 points for La Center (10-7, 6-5).
Colton Hollis scored 14 points and Jude Travinski added 13 points for Stevenson (2-15, 1-10). Seth Green scored nine of his 10 points in the third quarter.
SETON CATHOLIC 90, COLUMBIA-WHITE SALMON 61 — Brady Angelo scored 26 points as the Cougars (11-5, 10-0) remained unbeaten in the 1A Trico League.
Tyler Tran added 15 points, making five of Seton’s 15 3-pointers. Rico George added 14 points.
Seton Catholic his five 3-pointers in the first quarter to sprint to a 22-9 lead.
Mason Hamilton scored 35 points to lead the Bruins (8-7, 4-7).
2A Greater St. Helens League
RIDGEFIELD 84, HOCKINSON 52 — Jamison McCann scored 31 points and the host Spudders pulled away for a 2A GSHL win.
McCann scored 11 points in the third quarter, when Ridgefield outscored Hockinson 24-9 to take a 72-42 lead.
Malik Underwood added 14 points for Ridgefield (11-6, 7-4).
Oliver Garner scored 24 points, including five 3-pointers, for Hockinson (6-10, 4-7).
WASHOUGAL 46, WOODLAND 44 — Coleman Multanen scored 15 of his 17 points in the first half before the Panthers defense came up clutch in a 2A GSHL home win.
Jackson Multanen added 13 points for Washougal (5-11, 4-7). Alex Frost talled 12 points, including a clutch 3-pointer in the fourth quarter.
Woodland (2-16, 1-10) trailed 31-30 at halftime before the game turned into a defensive battle. Tanner Cusick scored 11 points and Michael Belvin added 10 points.
