La Conner feasted on free throws with the game on the line and spoiled Friday Harbor’s bid for a share of the league lead by dealing the Wolverines a 49-41 defeat Jan. 22 in Turnbull Gym.
The Braves (7-0 league, 13-2 overall) prevailed in the matchup of Northwest 1A/2B League leaders despite knocking down just a single field goal in the fourth and final period.
The Braves drained 13-of-16 free-throw attempts in the final eight minutes of regulation, 16-of-24 in the game, and added one 3-point bucket to fend off a late rally by the Wolverines.
Trailing by a single point at the half, Friday Harbor (5-2 league, 6-8 overall) fell further behind as the Braves tossed in 13 points after the break and held the home team to nine. Though senior Parker Lawson tossed in a game-high 22 points, contributions by the rest of the Wolverines were few and far between in the second half.
Senior Preston Ukra tallied the Wolverines final three points by burying a three-pointer with 26 seconds remaining on the clock.
The Wolverines fell to 5-2 in league play, and into a two-way tie with Shoreline Christian in the league standings.
La Conner senior Erik Lindeman and junior Kyle McKnight scored 12 points apiece to lead the Braves on the offensive end, and senior Brandon Willey added 11.
Ukra and Mike Ausilio each had six points each.
Next: The Wolverines host Darrington Jan. 29, 6 p.m. The date was incorrect in the Jan. 27 Journal.
They are on the road Jan. 30 at Shoreline Christian and travel to Orcas Feb. 2 for a pivotal match up against the Vikings.
They end regular-season play with a three-game home stretch, beginning Feb. 9 against Concrete.
Jan. 23
Nooksack Valley 55
Friday Harbor 39
A 10-point halftime lead proved fleeting as the offensive collapse after the break and the Wolverines stumbled 55-39 on the road Jan. 23 at Nooksack Valley.
Trailing by a single point at the end of the opening period, Friday Harbor (6-9 overall) outscored the Pioneers 15-4 over the next eight minutes to take a 31-21 into the locker room at the half. After the break, however, the Wolverines’ offense was a no-show.
They managed a total of just eight points in the third and fourth quarters.
The Pioneers (8-6 overall) tallied 18 third-quarter points to eclipsed the deficit, and in the fourth and final period, tossed in 16 more to seal a victory in the non-conference match up between the two Division 1A rivals. Nooksack Valley’s Kyle Impero led all scorers with 25 points, and teammate Brent Gwinner pumped in nine, all of which came from beyond the 3-point arc.
Friday Harbor senior Parker Lawson, the Wolverines leading offensive threat, hauled in 10 rebounds but managed only five points against the Pioneers interior defense. Mike Ausilio scored 15 points to lead the Wolverines and Roy Taylor had seven.
Jan. 19
Friday Harbor 54
MV Christian 35
Senior Parker Lawson tallied 16 points and Mike Ausilio tossed in 13 as the Wolverines notched a 54-35 victory on the road over Mount Vernon Christian.
Up 29-24 at the half, Friday Harbor limited the Hurricanes to a total of 11 points after the break and scored 25 of their own in running away with the league win. Senior Preston Ukra added 12 points to the team total. The Wolverines helped seal the win by shooting 68 percent from the free-throw stripe, knocking down 13-of-19 attempts.
