Raiders take sixth in state 2B basketball tourney

 

Last updated 3/6/2019 at 9:54am

The Raiders pause for a team photo as they are awarded the sixth-place trophy at state Saturday. In the back row from left: Assistant Coach Billy Nicholson, Head Coach Jeremy Crollard, Sonny Boyd, Tyler Jordan, Kyle Edmo, Sam Wapato, Assistant Coach Ty Egbert, Adam George, Soarin' Marchand, Wyatt Egbert, Assistant Coach Kyle Desautel. Kneeling: Cameron St. Pierre, Hunter Whitelaw, Jonathan Cante, CJ Saxon, Trevor McCraigie, Tyson Nicholson. - Scott Hunter photo

The Raiders basketball squad won two and lost two at state last week, ultimately finishing sixth out of Washington's 60 2B schools.

The Raiders kicked off their string of games at the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Hardwood Classic at Spokane Arena by winning a tight game against Liberty High School Feb. 27, 41-37.

The game stayed close the entire time against the Liberty Lancers, with the score tied 13-13 at the end of the first quarter and the Raiders leading 25-22 at the end of the half.

The Lancers took the lead very briefly in the third quarter, but Raider Trevor McCraigie took the lead right back for the Raiders with a mid-range jump shot to go back up 29-28. The Raiders led 32-30 at the end of the third, and won 41-37.

"It's an awesome feeling," Head Coach Jeremy Crollard said after the game. "We knew it was going to be a battle with them. They're a big, physical team. Our game plan in the second half was to just make sure we didn't give any easy buckets or second-chance points. These kids have never been to the arena to play; you have to give them credit, they're a good defensive team."

Trevor McCraigie hustles by a Toledo defender as coaches Jeremy Crollard, Billy Nicholson, Kyle Desautel and Ty Egbert watch in the background. - Scott Hunter photo

"It feels really good," team captain Trevor McCraigie said.

Asked how he keeps his head in the game in high pressure situations, McCraigie said, "You just do anything to win. Usually, I try to shoot myself into the game."

That Wednesday victory ensured at least two more games for the Raiders.

Things didn't go the Raiders' way the next day when they lost to Life Christian Academy 64-44 Feb. 28.

But the Raiders won against Toutle Lake the next day, 56-48, as McCraigie led the team with 20 points, and Hunter Whitelaw added 14.

That game positioned LR to play early Saturday morning in a game to determine the tournament's fourth- and sixth-place winners.

In the 8 a.m. game, the Raiders lost to Toledo High School 52-25, ending up at sixth place.

The trip to state was the LR boys' basketball team's first since 2012.

 

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