SPOKANE — The Neah Bay boys claimed the school’s first-ever basketball state championship by defeating Almira/Coulee-Hartline 73-48 in the Class 1B state championship game Saturday at Spokane Arena.
It was the Red Devils’ second straight state title game appearance and fourth in six years, but the first time they’ve been able to raise the gold ball.
Neah Bay entered the championship game as the underdog — Almira/Coulee-Hartline was undefeated and was ranked No. 1 in every Associated Press Class 1B poll this year.
But behind the hot shooting of Kenrick Doherty Jr., the Red Devils jumped out to an early lead and led 19-7 at the end of the first quarter. Doherty scored 10 of the Neah Bay’s first 12 points.
The Warriors bounced back in the second quarter and cut the deficit to 29-24 by halftime.
It was down to 33-29 when the Red Devils made their decisive run, a 17-0 scoring tear that all but put the gold ball in their hands. The score was 50-29 by the time Almira/Coulee-Hartline scored its next points.
Neah Bay cruised from there and never allowed the Warriors to make the fourth quarter interesting.
Ryan Moss, playing in the final game of his high school career, led the Red Devils with 15 points. Doherty finished with 14 and Rwehabura Munyagi Jr. added 12.
