No. 7 seed Lost River (24-5) and No. 19 seed Elkton (19-8) both struggled to make shots in the first half, but the higher seed found their form in the second and pulled away for a 57-38 win in the consolation round of the OSAA 1A boys basketball championships at Baker High School Thursday.
It was Lost River’s first state tournament win since 2003, when the Raiders were in 2A. Their 24th win of the season ties the program record set in 1998 and previously matched in 1999.
The teams combined to shoot 3-of-29 from the field (and 2-of-6 from the free throw line) in the first quarter, which ended with Elkton leading 6-2. The shots began to fall in the second, but neither team was able to generate much momentum until Lost River went on a 7-2 run in the final 1:24 of the period to take a 19-18 lead into halftime.
The Raiders used another quarter-ending run to take a 33-26 lead after the third, outscoring the Elks 7-0 over the final 1:50 of what had been a tightly contested frame. Elkton hit the first shot of the fourth quarter to get back within five points, but Lost River scored the next six to go up 39-28 with 6:19 to go. The Elks never got closer than eight points after that.
Kayden Hartman was named player of the game for Lost River after finishing with 18 points (on 6-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-8 from three), 3 rebounds and 2 assists. Connor Dunlea put up 12 points, 7 steals, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, while Chase McAuliffe recorded a double-double for the second straight game with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 3 steals. Other contributors for the Raiders were Tate Freeman with 7 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals; Emmett O’Brien with 5 points and 4 rebounds; Juan Navarro with 3 points; and Beau Sanders with 2 points and 2 steals.
Lost River shot 25.8% from the field in the first half, including 27.3% from three. They shot 44.8% from the field and 42.9% from three in the second.
Case Boe had a team-high 11 points for Elkton along with 4 rebounds and 2 blocks. Cael Boe was named player of the game for the Elks after putting up 7 points and a game-high 17 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks. Bodee Block and Jamal Lawton each had 7 points and 6 rebounds; Andrew Allen had 5 points and 5 rebounds; Lukas Rincon had 1 point and 2 rebounds; and Sean Hastings had 2 rebounds.
Elkton shot 7-of-25 (28%) from the field in both halves. The Elks were 1-of-11 from three in the first half and 0-of-7 in the second. They also committed 23 turnovers, which Lost River converted into 21 points.
The Raiders can take fourth place at the state tournament for the first time since 1999 with a win over No. 8 seed Union (23-8) Saturday. The Bobcats lost to No. 1 seed Crane 61-44 in the quarterfinals (avenging the Mustangs’ only loss of the season) and beat No. 12 seed Crosshill Christian 82-51 in the other consolation game. Tipoff is set for 9 a.m.
Elkton’s season is over.
