Reardan takes second

REARDAN - After winning a one-point thriller over Okanogan last week, the Screaming Eagles pulled out another nail-biter defeating Wellpinit 55-52 in their first game of the Lions Club Christmas Tournament on Dec. 29.

Rysen Soliday came out hot for Reardan, scoring seven quick points to put his team ahead 15-6 after the first quarter. Wellpinit turned the tables on Reardan in the second quarter, outscoring them 17-6 behind the shooting of Colin Hughes and Smokey Abrahamson to take a 23-21 lead at the half.

Early in the third quarter, Reardan's Jakari Singleton was sent to the bench after his fourth foul. In his absence, Logan Flaa and Soliday provided enough firepower to knot the game at 41 apiece with 7:28 remaining in the game.

For the next seven minutes, the lead went back and forth. Wellpinit was on top 52-51 with 31 seconds remaining in the game.

Singleton, back in the lineup, rebounded a Wellpinit missed shot and passed the ball to Soliday, who hit a runner just outside the paint to put Reardan ahead 53-52. Singleton gathered in another rebound, was fouled and sealed the win with two free throws.

Flaa scored 18 points to lead Reardan. Soliday and Singleton added 13 and eight points, respectively. Zander Thornton and Owee Handley each scored five points and Evan Krupke and Cohen Little each scored three.

Grant Denison scored 13 points to lead Wellpinit in scoring. Hughes, Abrahamson and David Wyncoop scored 10, nine and eight points, respectively.

"My boys have been looking forward to this game since last year," Reardan head coach Brian Graham said. "We got ahead early and were running our stuff well."

"They switched up their defense and made a couple baskets and we started getting in our own heads and let them back in the game. It was a rivalry game with lots of friends and family connections. We faced a talented team, but Logan and Rysen stepped up when we needed them."

The win pitted Reardan against the seventh-ranked Lake Roosevelt Raiders in the championship game the following night, Dec. 30.

Not intimidated by the opponents' lofty ranking, Reardan matched the Raiders basket-for-basket in the first half. With three minutes left, the teams were knotted at 30 apiece. Lake Roosevelt went into the locker room leading 36-33. Singleton and Flaa led the charge for Reardan, scoring 11 and 9 points, respectively.

The second half was a different story. Lake Roosevelt upped its intensity and kept Reardan on its heels with quick and crisp ball movement. Offensively, Reardan's shooting matched the frigid temperatures outside. The Raiders opened the half with a 16-0 run to take a 52-33 lead.

Reardan regained its shooting touch in the fourth quarter, scoring 13 points, but ultimately fell 69-46.

Singleton scored 14 points for the Screaming Eagles and pulled down 10 rebounds. Flaa scored 9 points and Soliday 7.

Marchand led the Raiders with 21 points.

Lake Roosevelt's win gave them the tournament championship, while Reardan placed second.

Reardan (4-5 overall) hosts Colfax on Friday, Jan. 6.