Yellow Pages
LA CONNER — Jeremy Vander lei’s thrilling shot at the buzzer Friday allowed the La Conner boys’ baskeetball team to send its battle for the Northwest 2B/1A championship with Darrington into double overtime.
The Braves found no such drama, however, in the second overtime period.
Darrington guard Cory Hoveskeland scored 23 points, post player Tyler Buchanan had a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds and the Loggers beat the Braves 61-59 in double overtime to claim the crown as the league’s top Class 2B team this season.
The Loggers could still tie for the league title itself with Class 1A Friday Harbor.
The game lets the Loggers claim a No. 1 seed to the tri-district tournament, while the Braves will take the No. 2 seed.
Hoveskeland scored six points total in the two overtime periods, and the 6-foot-5 Buchanan blocked three shots to help the Loggers. Mike Parris added 14 points.
But Darrington had to overcome 19 points from Erik Lindeman, who hit five 3-pointers, and 17 points and 10 rebounds by Vander lei. Vander lei assisted on two key baskets late in the game and also provided what may of been its most dramatic moment.
He found Lindeman in the corner for a 3-pointer to tie the game at 43 with 2:01 remaining in regulation, then, while in the high post, found D.J. Carr down low to briefly give the Braves a 45-43 lead.
But Parris hit a layup with 1:10 left, and the Braves couldn’t convert a shot with the clock winding down in regulation to get the win.
Then, as Darrington held a 54-52 lead in the first overtime, La Conner had the ball with about 12 seconds remaining.
The inbounds play from the sideline was knocked away, and Vander lei caught up with it, dribbled from half court, and sent a pass to Lindeman, whose shot bounced off the iron.
Vander lei caught the rebound in midair and shoveled it in, sending the game to double overtime.
The shot was dramatic, but it was the Loggers who provided most of the big plays in the second overtime, including a pair of free throws by Robert Gillette to briefly stretch the Loggers’ lead to four points.
A last-second shot attempt by the Braves fell short.
Darrington coach Kevin Ashe said the Braves (10-2 in league, 15-3 overall) knew it would be a dramatic game.
“Darrington and La Conner is such a big rivalry,” he said. “It seems like something’s always on the line when Darrington and La Conner play ... it was a tough, blood-and-guts game.”
La Conner coach Scott Novak said the Braves (9-3 league) may have been better served establishing play inside, where Vander lei and D.J. Carr (11 points) were playing well, than launching as many shots from the outside.
“Early on, we took a lot of shots early (in the possession) and we could have gone inside to D.J. and Jeremy,” he said.
The Braves will begin play in the tri-district tournament Thursday night, hosting the No. 3 team from the SeaTac League at 7:30 p.m.
• Trevor Pyle can be reached at 360-416-2156 or by e-mail at
