Braves win third in row, on road

There's no doubting Thomas regarding the La Conner High School boys' basketball team's resurrected post-season hopes.

Senior transfer Braden Thoma confirmed that in a big way at Friday Harbor Saturday, scoring a game-high 19 points to pace La Conner in a key 61-45 NW1B/2B win at Turnbull Gym.

Thomas, making his sixth start after transferring from Anacortes, delivered two of the team's nine outside treys as they won their third straight game and squared their season mark at 6-6.

La Conner has now reeled off four wins in six contests since Thomas joined the lineup.

His presence has taken the scoring load off and created more open looks for teammates Isaiah Price and Ivory Damien, both of whom enjoyed strong outings.

Price finished with 16 points. Damien added eight tallies, all in the fourth quarter. Each hit a three-pointer.

C.J. Edwards scored nine points, all behind the trey arc. Corran Eisen likewise netted all his six points on three-pointers.

Brayden Pedroza (2) and Isa Gonzales-Rojas (1) also reached the scoring column.

La Conner (3-1 in league) built a 29-19 lead at halftime and didn't look back.

For head coach C.J. Woods, the triumph was especially satisfying, coming at the expense of his high school alma mater.

More important, it provides needed momentum when the Braves host defending NW1B/2B champion Coupeville at 7 p.m. tonight (Wednesday). The Wolves sport an 8-5 overall mark having split conference games, downing Mount Vernon Christian and losing to Orcas Island.

La Conner plays Darrington 5 p.m. Friday and travels Monday to Lummi for non-league clash.