The Adna boys basketball team trailed most of the way and had to deal with another injury to one of its starters, but did enough to storm back and beat Ilwaco 60-58 on Saturday.
“(We) found a way to win by just competing our butts off and playing fearlessly,” Adna coach Luke Salme said.
The Fishermen led the Pirates (3-0) by nine after each of the first two quarters, and by seven going into the fourth, but Adna finished the game on a 19-10 run to clinch its third win in a row to open the season.
And it did so without the services of Eli Smith, who went down with a knee injury in the second quarter.
In his absence, senior Lane Johnson went off for 20 points to lead the charge.
“We leaned on Lane’s leadership and toughness, and the other guys just battled,” Salme said.
Freshman Trevin Salme added 10 points, hitting three 3-pointers in the second half. Gavan Muller also turned it on after the break, putting in eight of his 10 points in the latter two quarters.
Adna will get a few days off, before starting Central 2B League play Thursday, at home against Onalaska.
