The Woodland Beavers survived Thursday night.
The Washougal Panthers did not.
That’s the result of elimination basketball, a do-or-die playoff at the neutral court of Hudson’s Bay High School.
Bryce Mulder had 16 points, 17 rebounds, four blocked shots, and five assists, leading the Beavers to a 49-41 win over Washougal in the Class 2A District 4 boys basketball tournament.
The Beavers will take on Centralia in the third-place game Saturday at Mark Morris High School, with the winner advancing to the regional round of the state tournament.
Woodland used a 10-0 run to open the fourth quarter to take control after the Panthers had rallied to tie the game by the end of the third quarter.
“We had to man-up, take care of the ball, and play defense,” Mulder said of the message he heard from the coaches between quarters. “We let them score way too many points in the third quarter.”
The Beavers got a stop on Washougal’s first possession of the quarter, and that theme stuck for the next few minutes. Mulder used a strong post move for a lay-up to get the Beavers going on offense. Tyler Flanagan made it a five-point game with a 3-pointer. Wyatt Harsh connected on a runner, then Hayden Huddleston, who finished with 14 points, was true on a 3-pointer. From a tie game to a 10-point lead, just like that.
“I knew those were big shots there,” Mulder said of the 3-pointers. “We just had a pretty big run. That was nice to do, especially after we let them get back in the game.”
Woodland coach Jason Buffum said the Beavers had opportunities earlier in the game to not have to worry about fourth-quarter drama. So he challenged his players before the final quarter.
“We just knew it was going to be a complete dogfight. We had to climb in the trenches and go to war. Here we are, in a situation to live another day,” he said.
Daniel Davis, who had 14 points to lead Washougal, hit a 3-pointer with 2:07 left to make it a three-point game, but Mulder responded with a basket on the next Woodland possession to keep make it a two-possesion game again. Washougal would never have the ball with a chance to tie the rest of the way.
Woodland’s defense was strong most of the night. Washougal was 1-of-14 shooting in the first quarter and held to 12 first-half points. Woodland took a 13-point lead early in the third quarter but then the Panthers responded. Davis and Curtis Crosby each had five points in the period, with Davis hitting a 3-pointer toward the end of the quarter to tie the game.
It was all Beavers to start the fourth quarter, though, and that ended Washougal’s season.
Woodland’s game against Centralia will be at 7:45 p.m. Saturday at Mark Morris in Longview. A year ago, the same two teams played with the same thing at state: a trip to state.
The Beavers hope this year, the result goes their way.
WOODLAND 49, WASHOUGAL 41
WOODLAND — Bryce Mulder 16, McKay Flanagan 3, Devin Rice 0, Hayden Huddleston 14, Wyatt Harsh 4, Tanner Sixberry 6, Christian Mendez 0, Tyler Flanagan 6. Totals 17 (5) 10-15 49.
WASHOUGAL — Daniel Davis 14, Collin Prangley 11, Brody Oberg 4, Jake Klackner 0, Louie Barles 0, Curtis Crosby 11, Matt Rotundo 1, Bailey Deming 0, Josh Bischoff 0. Totals 15 (5) 6-11 41.
Woodland 9 11 8 21–49
Washougal 4 8 16 13–41
