The Adna Pirates needed an extra frame on Saturday in Napavine, but they were able to come away with a thrilling 54-51 victory over the Tigers to remain undefeated in C2BL play.
“It was just another Adna/Napavine battle,” Adna coach Luke Salme said. “This rivalry and that atmosphere is so awesome. Both teams probably would like to have a redo on some possessions, but that’s how these games go.”
Adna led 9-8 late in the first before scoring the final six points of the frame to open up a seven-point lead, but Napavine responded with a 9-2 run to open the second to tie the game at 17.
The Tigers briefly took the lead at 21-19, but a Landen Cline bucket and a Trevin Salme three in the final seconds of the first half gave Adna a 24-21 lead going into the break.
The second half was just as back-and-forth, and a Hudson Chambers bucket tied the game at 47 with 36 seconds to play. That score held until regulation ended, forcing the extra period.
Cline opened OT with a three to give Adna the lead, and the Pirates held the Tigers without a field goal until there was 1:07 left in the period.
That basket from Layton Griffith made it a two-point game, and Griffith made a free throw with 20 seconds left to make it a one-point game, but one free throw from Salme with 19 seconds left and another with one second left iced the game.
Salme finished with a game-high 21 points, and he also added 18 rebounds and five steals for the double-double. Grayson Humphrey added 19 points and five rebounds, while Cline finished with nine points and four rebounds.
James Greenwood finished with seven rebounds and a point, and Kaden Richardson added six boards.
“I’m proud of our guys for hanging in there and finding a way,” Luke Salme said. “It wasn’t pretty, but it doesn’t have to be. Keep grinding, never quit, and see what happens.”
Tyce Vigre led Napavine with 19 points, while Hudson Chambers added 10 to go along with four rebounds and two steals.
Griffith just missed a double-double with nine points and 14 rebounds, and he also added seven blocks, three assists, and a pair of steals. Eric Bullock scored nine points of his own and tallied six rebounds and four assists.
Both teams will hit the road on Tuesday, when Napavine (8-3, 5-2 C2BL) will head to Onalaska and Adna (9-2, 7-0 C2BL) will travel to Winlock.
