Hudson’s Bay kept its postseason hopes alive.
And it did so in epic fashion.
Eric Ryapolov drilled a corner 3-pointer, barely getting the shot off before the buzzer, to sink Evergreen.
It was Ryapolov’s first attempt at a 3-pointer this season. And in a game where a loss would have ended the Eagles’ postseason hopes, Bay managed to stay alive.
“Bay playing to save their season,” Evergreen coach Brett Henry said. “It was tough.”
Bay hit five of its seven 3s in the first half and led by 11 at halftime.
Then Evergreen tied up the game by the end of the third quarter.
The Plainsmen led by as much as three points in what was a back-and-forth fourth quarter, and led by two with seven seconds left, setting up Ryapolov’s shot.
Ryapolov finished with 20 points to lead the Eagles.
Dwight Jones led Evergreen with 18 points and Brock Schoene scored 17.
“I told (my team) I was really proud of them for the way they competed,” Henry said. “We’ve been really focused on effort and attitude and they did a good job of playing with poise.”
An Evergreen win would have secured a postseason spot. The Plainsmen can still do so if they beat Mountain View on Friday.
If Evergreen loses Friday, and Bay beats Fort Vancouver, there will be a four-way tie for the last two playoff spots.
HUDSON’S BAY 65, EVERGREEN 64
HUDSON’S BAY — Carter Morse 6, Demareya Gipson 9, Quadrese Teague 4, Eli Hoover 10, Nathan Bushlach 0, Nicholas Campbell 0, Eric Ryapolov 20, Marcus Cadiz 5, Travion Weiss 11. Totals 25 (7) 8-14 65.
EVERGREEN — Zyell Griffin 4, Jerontae Burns 4, Michael Cabrera 0, Dwight Jones 18, Mawuto Akoto 0, Jeremy Harju 6, Brock Schoene 17, X’Zayvier Washington 4, Tyler Wendt 0, Christian Huerta 2, Gabe Anderson, Carter Monda 8, Daud Kahn 1. Totals 23 (7) 11-15 64.
Hud.Bay 24 19 11 11–65
Evergreen 19 13 21 11–64
JV — Hudson’s Bay won.
C — Evergreen, 71-52.
