King’s Way Christian clinched the Class 1A Trico League championship Monday with the 60-57 win over visiting La Center.
The Wildcats had the ball with under seven seconds to play, and missed a contested shot at the buzzer after a scramble for a loose ball. The Wildcats (9-8, 5-4) held a one-point lead with under two minutes left, but King’s Way scored the next six points.
King’s Way improved to 10-0 in league play. Castle Rock beat second-place Kalama 70-62 on Monday to assure the Knights of the league title.
A 22-point second quarter proved to be the difference for King’s Way (13-4 overall). La Center outscored the Knights in each of the other three quarters.
“Credit to La Center,” King’s Way coach Daven Harmeling said. “They really brought the fight to us. That’s the hardest I’ve seen a team play all season long.”
Six King’s Way players scored in the second quarter, which included four made 3-pointers as the Knights outscored the Wildcats 22-11 to lead by seven points at halftime.
Kienan Walter scored six of his game-high 25 points in the second quarter and Joe Mills scored four of his 11 in the period.
Dalton Morgan led the Wildcats with 23 points. Sawyer Bierscheid scored 15 and Brody Seter 10.
KING’S WAY 60, LA CENTER 57
LA CENTER — Avery Seter 0, Sawyer Bierscheid 15, Jake Morris 0, Matt Baher 3, Brody Seter 10, Jackson Leslie 0, Jon Eastman 3, Dalton Morgan 23, Austin Paradis 3, Jack Hiller 0. Totals 22 (8) 5-7 57.
KING’S WAY CHRISTIAN — Kefentse Cason 0, Darion Lycksell 3, Skyler Freeman 5, Karter Graves 6, Joe Mills 11, Kyle Gonzales 8, Khalfani Cason 0, Kienan Walter 25, Preston Danberg 2, Tony Huser 0. Totals 19 (6) 16-21 60.
La Center 18 11 15 13–57
King’s Way 14 22 14 10–60
JV — King’s Way won.
