Michael Orozco draws a foul on the way to the hoop during Tuesday’s playoff-clinching victory at Omak.
OMAK – Tonasket clinched its first district basketball tournament berth in six seasons with a win at Omak on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 67-58.
The Tigers led by as many as 12 points in the first half and were up 36-28 at the half.
Omak, led by Chance Williams, pulled to within 48-45 in the third quarter as the Tonasket offense sputtered.
The Tigers finished strong, starting with a nifty 40-foot, cross-court pass from Ian Young to Ethan Bensing that resulted in a harder-than-it-looked fast break basket.
Dyllan Gage scored 10 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter as the Tigers (9-10, 4-9 Caribou Trail League) extended their lead.
Trevor Terris snapped out of a recent shooting slump to score 17 points, Bensing added 13 and Michael Orozco tallied 12.
Roberto Juarez shoots during Tuesday’s victory over Omak.
Tonasket plays at Quincy on Friday, Feb. 1 (a change from its originally scheduled date of Saturday). A victory would net the Tigers the league’s #5 seed into the district playoffs, while a loss would leave them at #6.
Either way, their Tuesday, Feb. 5, loser-out district playoff game will be on the road. A win earns a trip to Brewster while a loss means a trip to Cashmere or Chelan, depending on other results this weekend.
