On the road against the 1A Trico’s top seed, the Tenino boys basketball team didn’t make it easy for the league champs down south, dropping a nailbiter, 46-39, in the 1A District 4 first round Thursday in Vancouver.
The Beavers got off to a slow start, with early turnovers helping the Knights to an 18-9 lead after one quarter, but after that, the Beavers outscored the Knights, 18-15 over the next two quarters and played competitively throughout the fourth.
“I’ve got nothing negative to say,” Beavers coach Joe Chirhart said. “If we play like that we have a good opportunity to beat anyone in our district. I’m really proud of our guys tonight.”
Takari Hickle notched yet another double-double with 10 points and rebounds, and Noah Schow chipped in a team-high 14 points. Tenino forward Jack Burkhardt didn’t find the score sheet but sent back five shots in a dominant effort down low.
The Beavers will take on Elma in a win-or-go-home game on the road Saturday at 6 p.m. with their backs against the wall against a familiar opponent.