Braves secure playoffs with comeback win

Funny the difference a few days makes.

The La Conner Braves started last week suffering one of their toughest defeats Jan. 31, a humbling 56-31 home loss to Mount Vernon Christian. They rebounded quickly, first posting an amazing comeback home win Feb. 3 over conference foe Friday Harbor, clinching a 2B bi-district playoff berth. They earned a earned a moral victory the next night in a hard-fought loss to 2A Burlington-Edison.

"These kids play hard, real hard and it's starting to pay off," Braves head coach C.J. Woods said after the B-EHS game Saturday night at Landy James Gym, a non-league contest that saw the Tigers enjoy a 21-3 edge in free throw attempts enroute to a 59-46 triumph.

"I think a lot of it comes back to all the games this group played during the summer," said Woods. "We're at the point where we really know who we are."

That identity as a relentless, never-say-die ball-hawking defensive unit was shown Friday night with a 38-17 rally erasing a seemingly hopeless 19-point halftime deficit, securing an improbable 59-57 victory.

All seemed lost at the break. The first two quarters Friday Harbor banked in long three-pointers, gathered in every 50-50 ball and scored off putbacks and turnovers in transition.

The Wolverines built their largest lead, 35-15, on a bucket by Jonah Parsons with 3:20 left in the half.

La Conner barely remained on life support thanks to three-pointers from Brayden Pedroza and Braden Thomas.

The second half was a different story entirely.

The Braves emerged from intermission employing a full-court press, spurring an immediate 9-0 run fueled by two free throws each from Ivory Damien and Isaiah Price, a three-pointer by Thomas and an inside score by Price off a Damien assist.

Price scored six straight points – including two charity tosses courtesy of a technical foul on the visitors' bench – to pull within 42-36 with two minutes remaining in the third frame.

The home team forged their first lead since Pedroza's game-opening basket when Corran Eisen drained a long trey putting them on top 45-44 with 6:10 to play.

That advantage extended to eight points, at 55-47 on a C.J. Edwards layup at the 4:17 mark.

Friday Harbor then responded with a 10-2 spurt capped by a Drake Goodrich floater to tie matters at 57-57 in the final minute.

Thomas, who finished with a game-high 23 points, provided the winning margin with a deft post-up move with 0:25 left.

Price (12) joined Thomas in double figure scoring for La Conner. Damien (9), Eisen (8), Pedroza (5) and Edwards (2) rounded out the Braves attack.

Against Mount Vernon Christian, the taller Hurricanes dominated the glass and unleashed an active and stifling zone defense. Five consecutive three-pointers in the third quarter punctuated the blowout.

The Braves were a different team in the second half against Friday Harbor three nights later. The transformation carried over to the Burlington-Edison matchup Saturday night.

The Tigers prevailed behind 25 points – including two dunks – from 6'-6" post Bennett Howe.

La Conner kept within striking distance with its perimeter game, delivering eight treys, three each by Thomas and Price, who led the hosts with 15 and 13 points, respectively. Damien (7), Pedroza (4), Edwards (4) and Eisen (3) also scored.

La Conner (9-11 overall) wrapped up regular season play at Coupeville last night.