Napavine, Wins Third and Most Important Match (so far) with Ducks

In the 2nd half, looks in the paint were tough to come by for Toutle Lake, but Chris Foster got this highly improbable shot to go over and through Napavine defenders Micah Brown (#31) and Justin Smith (#23)

When it comes to the Central 2B, it is a matter of who wants the game after 32 minutes. All season, the teams traded wins and home and home conference games. The Tigers and Toutle Lake were no exception, having traded 47-45 and 49-46 outcomes earlier in the season. It only made sense that Napavine and Toutle Lake met with a trip to the WIAA State Tournament on the line.

The Ducks earned themselves a reputations for engineering comebacks with a dramatic overtime win against South Bend and then coming back from 16 down against Adna , but tonight jumped out on the Tigers from the tip. Napavine however, began a comeback with a 12-0 run that had the halftime break sandwiched in for good taste. In the 3rd quarter, momentum catapulted towards the Tigers and they grabbed a lead they would never relinquish in a 46-44 victory in the 2B Semi-Finals.

Blake Anthony led Napavine with 16 points while Chris Foster helped the Ducks with 15.

Micah Brown (#31) stepped-up and contributed to the Tigers victory with his 9 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists.

For the Tigers, it was the combined effort of Micah Brown and Devin Carroll to come back from a 22-12 deficit. With three minutes to go in the 2nd quarter, Micah Brown, Anthony and Jordan Brown all hit buckets. After the intermission, Carroll scored four points while Micah Brown added two more to grab a lead the Tigers would refuse to let go.

Napavine's Colton Brown works in the paint against Toutle Lake's Chris Foster (#24).

Early, Toutle Lake jumped out with a number of early buckets. Christ Foster hit a pair of deuces and a trey while Cody O’ Connor produced points helping the Ducks to an early 12-4 advantage.

Jeff Campbell backs down Napavine's Justin Smith. Toutle Lake had many good looks in the paint early in the game.

In the 2nd half, the Ducks derailed themselves commiting 13 of their 16 turnovers on the night. Let's not forget the very forgetful 3-15 from the free throw line through the game either but what made things worse, Napavine was able to shoot 71 percent from the field after halftime.

The Tigers led 39-31 early in the 4th, but the Duck’s Jeff Campbell fought through three defenders for a hard-fought bucket in the paint. Seconds later, Foster was fouled in the shot process and earned three points in the old-school way to bring his team to 39-37.

Napavinve's Devin Carroll scored 13 points on the evening and went 3 for 3 from the free throw line.

Inside of two minutes, a bevy of turnovers riddled both teams as errant passes went over heads and off hands and the Tigers held on to a 43-38 advantage. With 31 seconds to go, the Ducks Tyler Elam sunk a huge three (his only points of the night) and the patented Toutle Lake comeback was showing signs of life.

Zack Hayes fouled Jordan Brown to stop the clock and Brown buried the two charity shots. The importance of those free throws where highlighted when Foster put in another clutch three with six seconds to go, bringing the score to 45-44.

Appropriately, it was Anthony that was fouled and he sank one of two free throws, leaving the Ducks two seconds. A shot was launched from about 55 feet that hit the lower right corner of the backboard and Napavine earned a trip to the state tournament.

Napavine will meet Pe Ell for the 3rd time in the District 2B Championship game on Saturday while the Ducks will face North Beach in a loser-out match.

TIGERS (46)
Wade Hamre 0, Devin Carroll 13, Colton Brown 0, Tyson Hunt 0, Justin Smith 4, Jordan Brown 2, Reece Stanley 2, Micah Brown 9, Blake Anthony 16, Mathew Waltenburg 0

DUCKS (44)
Cody O’ Connor 11, Zac Hayes 7, Tyler Elam 3, Brian Nash 0, Chris Foster 15, Jeff Campbell 8, Dan Schilter 0,

Napavine 9 9 20 8-46
Toutle Lake 15 7 9 13-44