Tonasket junior Colton Ayers tries to make a shot over a Chelan Goat during the Tigers’ away game against Chelan on Saturday, Jan. 30. Photo by Les Bowen
CHELAN – After losing two more league games, the Tonasket boys’ basketball team is now looking for a way to end their season on a positive note.
On Tuesday, Jan. 26, the Tigers lost at home to Lake Roosevelt 72-54.
“I thought we came out with the type of energy and enthusiasm we have been looking for all season,” Glenn Braman, head coach, said. “We were only down by three at the half versus when we played at Lake Roosevelt and were down by 13 at the half.”
Junior Corbin Moser lead the Tigers with 16 points, five assists, and two steals while junior Colton Ayers had 14 points and eight rebounds and senior Terrell Cross had eight points and six rebounds. Senior Wade DeTillian had six rebounds while sophomore John Stedtfeld had two steals and senior Blake Long had four assists.
“We shot the ball pretty well and had good rebounds,” Moser said. “Our defense picked up and we played well. It’s been a rough season but I think in the long run we’ll come out ahead from where we started.”
On Saturday, Jan. 30, the Tigers lost to Chelan 90-23.
“The first two possession of the game were great, and then we quit doing what we needed to do,” Braman said. “Against teams that are as aggressive as Chelan, you have to ball fake, shot fake and move the ball quick. We did that a couple times, we just have to do it every time.”
Ayers led the team with 11 points and six rebounds while Moser had five points and three assists and junior Zach Neal had four points.
“At this point in the season, we are playing well in spurts,” Braman said. “We still need to put it all together and have a couple great games to finish out the season. We are looking for something to leave a positive taste in the kids’ mouths to keep them hungry going into the off season and looking forward to next season.”
Ayers is leading the Tigers this season with 200 points, 135 rebounds, 21 assists and 17 steals. Stedtfeld has 166 points so far this season with 65 rebounds, 26 assists and 24 steals and Moser has 112 points with 56 rebounds, 45 assists and 10 steals. DeTillian has 58 rebounds and Neal has 55 rebounds and 17 steals.
As of press time, the Tigers (0-10, 2-16) had not yet played at home against Okanogan on Tuesday, Feb. 2. Their next game is Saturday, Feb. 6 at home against Cascade at 7:30 p.m.
“Both Cascade and Okanogan are teams that we can compete with if we play the way we need to,” Braman said. “They both press, so we have to handle that, as well as hit some shots that haven’t been falling for us lately. I hope everyone can come out and support our boys and girls programs in our last four games, three of which are at home, and root them on to a couple victories to close out the season.”
