Dayton Chronicle - Your Hometown News Source

GRANGER–A three-point shot at the buzzer by Mabton's Armando Chavez went BLOOP–in and out of the hoop–preserving Dayton-Waitsburg's 58-55 lead and advancement into the WIAA 2B Basketball Tournament here February 16. The Wolfpack won a seeding game versus Cle Elum-Roslyn last Saturday 48-42, and Dayton-Waitsburg tips off against Lind-Ritzville-Sprague-Washtucna-Harrington at noon, Saturday, February 25, at Cheney High School.

The top eight teams in the 16-school bracket begin playing double-elimination opening-round games on Friday, Feb. 24 and Saturday, Feb. 25, while the lower-seeded eight teams, Dayton-Waitsburg included, are in single elimination for the first two rounds of games, first the opening round and the first day of play at the Spokane Arena, March 1.

While the Wolfpack faces LRSW, La Conner will play Chief Leschi in Auburn, Cle-Elum-Roslyn meets Wahkiakum in Chehalis, and Auburn Adventist faces TriCities Prep at Richland High School. Winners advance to the Round of 12 at the Spokane arena where they'll meet the four winning double-seeded teams in the bracket's upper section.

Against Cle-Elum-Roslyn, the Wolfpack nudged ahead with a 12-10 first-quarter lead, and a 25-20 difference at half time.

The Warriors came out with points in the third quarter, scoring two quick buckets to pull within one, 25-24. But two Monte Pettichord baskets and Gage Holm, with a trey, reset the lead to 32-24. As the third quarter clock ran into the two-minute mark, both teams jockeyed for position, Spencer Hansen's trey and gifters from Benny Bryan helping keep DW in the lead.

Up by three going into the fourth quarter, 39-36, Gage Holm drained a three, the start of a four chilly minutes while Cle Elum-Roslyn nipped here and there to come within two points, 42-40. Hansen broke the spell with a basket at 3:30, but Warrior Johnson answered.

Possession traded and time ticked down when Hansen swished another bucket, giving DW a 46-2 lead with 45 seconds to go. Warrior Jett Favero's trey clanged out with just seconds remaining, and rebounder Pettichord received a quick foul and he sank both free throws for the 48-42 final score.

Against Mabton February 16 in Granger, the Wolfpack weathered a full-court press in the third and fourth quarters for a 58-55 win that just missed going into overtime when a Viking three-point shot looped in then out of the hoop as the buzzer sounded.

After a time out, with 6.8 seconds remaining in regulation, Mabton inbounded the ball to 5-7 freshman guard Rudy Zavala, who dribbled to the top right of the key with Ryland Kilts guarding him, reversed back to the top of the arc and flipped the ball to Chavez, whose off-balance, hastily made three-point try went Dayton-Waitsburg's way.

"There was a lot of adversity in that second half that the guys did a good job of battling through," commented Head Coach Roy Ramirez. Both Pettichord and Bryan sat through a majority of the third and fourth quarters in foul trouble, pressing the reserves into service.

"The guys who came in did a good job and my hope was that we could continue to be right there and not fall behind," Ramirez said, "and the guys came in and did a great job. They had us right there when we needed to and biding our time until we could get those guys [Pettichord and Bryan] back on the floor."

The Wolfpack counted on Ryland Kilts, with 12 points, four rebounds and two steals, and Gage Holm, with 10 points, nine boards and three assists, to make up the difference with the starters on the bench. Hansen led with a game-high 21 points, seven rebounds, two blocked shots and steals, and an assist.

DW worked against the Viking press in the first quarter, and when Mabton switched to a zone defense, took its 16-14 first-quarter lead to 32-24 at half.

But the foul trouble and press got Mabton back in the game, tying it 34-34 after just a couple minutes. Pettichord rallied with a bucket, but missed the and-one, then Holm sunk one for a 38-35 lead.

Down the stretch in the third, Reuben Yutzy and Holm helped bump the margin up, 41-37, and as the final seconds ticked down, Mabton's Chavez drained a three to tie it at 43 after three quarters.

Blake French hit to put DW ahead, but Vazquez answered, 45-45, then Mabton edged ahead 50-47 at the 4:51 mark. Hansen scored and after a Mabton free throw, Kilts hit to tie it 51-51. After the Vikings missed, Kilts scored again to put DW up 53-51, and Hansen increased the difference with a basket at 1:26.

Pettichord returned to the game and scored for a four-point difference, 57-53, and when Bryan was whistled for his fifth foul, Vazquez made a free throw for Mabton, 57-54.

Kilts was fouled and made one free throw with just seconds to play and another Mabton gifter made it a three-point ballgame, 58-55, setting up Mabton's last, but off, final shot.

Dayton-Waitsburg 58, Mabton 55 (2-16)

-Chronicle photo

Viking defenders go for the ball as Monte Pettichord (11) dives for it and attempts to pass to Benny Bryan (10) one of the results of Mabton's full-court pressure.

DW 16 16 11 15-58

Mab 14 10 19 12-55

DW (58) Spencer Hansen 21, Gage Holm 10, Ryland Kilts 12, Benny Bryan 2, Monte Pettichord 7, Reuben Yutzy 1, Blake French 4, Wyaitt Booth 1. Free throws: 6/16-38%. FG(2): 20/40-50%. FG(3): 4/10-40%.

Mabton (55) Sam Vazquez 18, Rudy Zavala 14, Armando Chavez 9, Manuel Birueta 3, Marco Espinoza 11. Free throws: 18/24-75%. FG(2): 14/26-54%. FG(3): 3/17-18%.

Dayton-Waitsburg 48, Cle Elum 42 (2/18)

DW 12 13 14 9-48

CE 10 10 16 6-42

DW (48) Spencer Hansen 10, Gage Holm 6, Ryland Kilts 11, Benny Bryan 11, Monte Pettichord 10. Free throws: 8/10-80%. FG(2): 8/14-57%. FG(3): 16/32-50%.

Cle Elum (42) Caleb Bogart 4, Luke Chafin 13, Joel Kelly 10, Dominick Johnson 12, Jett Favero 2, Mac Williams 1. Free throws: 6/11-55%. FG(2): 12/22-55%. FG(3): 4/9-44%.