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Don Gronning
CUSICK – The third time was the charm for the Selkirk Rangers boys’ basketball team when they played the Battle for the Paddle spirit game at Cusick Thursday, Jan. 22.
The Rangers lost the first two times they played the Cusick Panthers but got a 63-61 win Thursday.
“The Battle for the Paddle game with Cusick was an awesome atmosphere, with both communities coming out to support the kids,” Ranger coach Brodie Larson said. “The crowd was standing room only and loud — a really fun night.”
The game went back and forth, with Selkirk taking a 16-13 first quarter lead. The Panthers came back in the second quarter, taking a 29-26 halftime lead.
The Rangers came roaring back with a 22-9 third quarter, enough to withstand a 23-15 Cusick fourth quarter rally and get the win.
The Panther’s Daniel Lyon led all scorers with 28 points. Cusick hit three 3-pointers, with Thomas Sullivan, Charles Whitford and Mylind Whitford each hitting a 3-pointer.
Selkirk’s Kipton Corkill scored 20 points and Keaton Arrastio got 19 points for the Rangers.
The Rangers played Tuesday, Jan. 20, losing 80-70 to Northport. Saturday, Jan. 24, they lost 74-70 to Republic.
“Against Northport and Republic, two very good teams, the boys really competed hard,” Larson said. “It was good to get our seniors Blake (Reed), Caden (Pichette), and Keaton (Arrastio) back in the lineup.”
The Rangers finished the regular season ranked No. 4 in the Northeast 1B North conference. They will have a crossover game with an opponent from the Northeast 1B South conference Saturday, Jan. 31. The location and time of the game has yet to be dertrmined.
