Buzzer beater beats Selkirk

INCHELIUM — The Selkirk boys basketball team played a tough Inchelium team down to the wire Saturday, Dec. 20, at Inchelium, losing in the last seconds. The day before they beat Columbia 73-49 on the road. Wednesday, Dec. 17 they lost at Cusick 64-51.

Ranger coach Brodie Larson says the Inchelium contest was a hard-fought game that came down to the wire.

“Inchelium hit a (3-pointer) at the buzzer to win it,” he says. Despite the loss, Larson was pleased with how hard the team played through all four quarters. “If we keep playing with that level of intensity and togetherness, good things are ahead.”

The Rangers led 30-27 at the half and extended the lead with a 16-15 third quarter, but Inchelium rallied with a 18-13 final quarter with the final shot getting the win.

Kipton Corkhill led Selirk scoring with 14 points, Keaton Arrastio had a dozen and Blake Reed scored 11 points. Arrastio pulled down 11 rebounds and Caden Pichett had 10.

Against Columbia the night before, the Rangers started hard, with a 19-8 first quarter run. They tool a 36-19 lead into halftime.

Columbia trimmed that lead by four in the third quarter but Selkirk put the game away with a dominant 19-8 fourth quarter.

Arrastio scored 22 points and had three steals, three blocks and 10 rebounds, including five offensive rebounds. Lane Reed led Selkirk rebounding with 11, including seven offensive boards. Pichette had 10 rebounds, with four offensive rebounds. Corkill had 20 points and a pair of steals. Blake Reed also had two steals.

“As a team, we did a much better job taking care of the ball and we really controlled the glass,” Larson says.

The Cusick game started evenly, with the teams tied at 11 all in the first quarter. Cusick went up by seven at the half 30-22 but Selkirk outscored the Panthers 19-15 in the third. The fourth quarter made the difference, with Cusick going on a 19-9 run.

“Cusick did a nice job taking advantage of our mistakes,” Larson says. “We were a little too polite with our neighbors to the south and gave them the ball far too many times. It’s hard to beat a good team when you are giving them extra opportunities.”

Selkirk had a home game Monday night against Wilbur-Creston-Keller. Then they’re off until Jan. 3, when they’re home against Cusick.