MOUNT VERNON — Austin Schley hit a 3-pointer that rolled around the rim before falling for the game-deciding basket with less than a minute to play and Cedar Park Christian-Mountlake Terrace beat Neah Bay 65-64 to win the 1B Tri-District tournament on Monday night.
It was the first tri-district championship for Cedar Park Christian-MLT, which plays Christian Faith in the regional round of the state tournament on Saturday at Lynnwood H.S.
“We talked about the fact we’ve got plaques with twos and fours up there but no firsts,” said CPC-MLT head coach Patrick Russell. “It’s fun to finally put a first up there.”
Once again Cedar Park was playing without usual starters Terry Eun and Eric Matson, who were both injured during the Lions’ playoff run. In their stead Schley stepped up once again. After hitting four 3-pointers in a win over Tulalip Heritage in the semifinals, Schley scored eight in the win over Neah Bay.
Wilson Reidt led all scorers with 20 points and was big during a key stretch that bridged the second and third quarters. Reidt had nine points as the Lions outscored Neah Bay 15-4 to take a commanding 39-32 lead shortly after halftime.
But Neah Bay chipped away at Cedar Park’s lead and actually took a 62-60 lead late in the fourth quarter. But Cedar Park got two key free throws from Ben Reidy to tie the score before Neah Bay’s Abraham Venske hit a putback to help the Red Devils retake the lead with just over a minute to play.
Neah Bay stole the ball on the next possession but missed their next shot to set up Schley’s 3-pointer.
“He’s a pretty confident kid,” Russell said of Schley.
Russell said he expects Eun to be back for Saturday’s game but isn’t so sure about Matson, who is scheduled to visit the doctor today to have his ankle checked out.
At Mount Vernon Christian H.S.
Neah Bay18102016—64
Cedar Park Chr.-MLT17142212—65
Neah Bay—Abraham Venske 12, Josiah Greene 10, Zeke Greene 18, Leyton Doherty 7, Ryan Moss 13, John Reamer 4. Cedar Park Christian—Micah Patterson 10, Wilson Reidt 20, Daniel Schettler 6, Ben Reidy 17, Austin Schley 8, Zach Wallace 4. 3-point goals—Moss 4, Z. Greene 2, Reidt 2, Schley 2, Patterson 1. Records—CPC-MLT 23-3.
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