SPOKANE — With Neah Bay’s leading scorer Ryan Moss hounded and harassed all game long, the Red Devils still found a way back to the state championship game by gritting out a 61-58 victory over Sunnyside Christian in the Class 1B boys basketball state semifinals at Spokane Arena.
“They were focusing so much on Ryan after his 41 points [in Thursday’s quarterfinal win against Taholah] that it was like a blessing for the team,” Neah Bay coach Stan Claplanhoo said of Friday’s semifinal.
Moss was limited to nine points, but also added four assists, two rebounds, a steal and a block.
“They made him work so hard, but it opened up the other four guys. And man the other guys stepped it up,” Claplanhoo said.
Those other guys included Kenrick Doherty Jr., who finished with 19 points four rebounds and a steal, and Rwehabura Munyagi Jr., who added 15 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals.
“Kenrick shot the ball well for us, and Rweha just had a huge game,” Claplanhoo said.
“It was a team effort, everybody doing their part and working defensively the entire four quarters.”
Anthony Bitegeko came off the bench and scored all eight of his points in the second quarter as the Red Devils led 37-35 at halftime.
“Anthony came off the bench and had a big game,” Claplanhoo said.
“He had a great game defensively, too.”
Neah Bay had a 10-point lead, 54-44, entering the final period.
The Knights trapped and pressed their way back into the game, whittling away at the Red Devils’ lead throughout the fourth quarter.
“We got up by 10 there, and the other team was getting away with a lot of reaches and hacking at the ball,” Claplanhoo said.
“They put some pressure on us bringing the ball up, and we couldn’t hit our free throws.”
Neah Bay missed the front end of three consecutive one-and-one free throw opportunities down the stretch.
Sunnyside Christian pulled within one, 59-58, in the last minute, as Luke Wagenaar scored seven of his game-high 20 points in the final period.
Chance Marsh missed two shots that would have given the Knights the lead in that last minute. He then turned the ball over with less than five seconds remaining.
Doherty found Munyagi on the ensuing inbounds play for a long runout and layup at the buzzer.
“We held our composure and made some big plays right there at the end,” Claplanhoo said.
“Rweha, he already had a step on his guy, and he cut to the basket, and you know how fast Rweha is.
“Kenrick hit him with a good pass and that clinched it.”
The Red Devils (21-3) played in their second consecutive state championship game — and fourth is six years — late Saturday against top-ranked and undefeated Almira/Coulee-Hartline.
