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They were on the brink of seeing a primary goal snatched away. They were searching for answers when at one point, they seemingly had all of them. They were at the edge of unraveling.
So who did the Toledo High School boys basketball team call upon to pry open the jaws of victory?
It wasn’t Cooper Fallon, the Co-C2BL MVP. It wasn’t Trevin Gale, the slashing forward that isn’t afraid of contact. Nor was it the guard duo of Adam Kruger and Eli Weeks, who have shown up in big moments in multiple sports.
Just over yonder, with residency in both corners of the court, stood 5-foot-11 sophomore Conner Hill. Or as Riverhawks head coach Grady Fallon calls him their “secret weapon.”
“He took advantage of the opportunity,” Coach Fallon stated.
Secret’s out.
Hill jumpstarted the necessary run to put Toledo in front after three quarters – then proceeded to hit three clutch trifectas in the fourth to cap a 15-point night – which ignited the reigning Class 2B District 4 champions to a 67-58 triumph over Ilwaco on Wednesday night at W.F. West High School.
The guard celebrated after each bucket with the "ice in his veins” motion and when the final buzzer went off, he let his emotions out. The Riverhawks will take on Napavine on Saturday night in Chehalis for the chance to be the first back-to-back district champs since Kalama in 2021-22.
“We earned it, we worked hard and we’re back,” Hill said. “It is great. It’s going to be fun.”
For all 24 games this season, Toledo (19-5) has maintained the same four guys in the starting lineup – Cooper Fallon, Weeks, Gale and Kruger. The fifth starter was Hill at the beginning, then sophomore Joaquin Acosta took the final spot and has maintained it.
Even though he was coming off the bench, Hill didn’t sulk.
“I haven’t been shooting the best lately, so to finally shoot good and knock some down for the team, really feels good,” Hill stated. “I go 100 percent whenever the team needs me, I’m willing to do it.”
“We were working on his confidence and his attitude has been perfect, better than you could expect,” Coach Fallon added.
When Toledo needed a spark, Hill delivered. And he didn’t leave the floor until the game was a solidified victory.
Trailing by six late in the third, the first made triple off the hands of Hill brought the lead back to a possession. Fallon converted a floater with 27 ticks left to put the Riverhawks in front 42-41. The final basket of a 14-0 spree was, you guessed it, a Hill 3-pointer.
Ilwaco collapsed the paint and it left the sharpshooter alone in the corner and he drained each one with confidence. His final two makes put Toledo up nine and came in the midst of the game-sealing 9-0 run.
“Definitely uplifting,” Cooper Fallon said. “As soon as you see it go in, everyone’s smiling and (gives you) that sigh of relief.”
While the fourth quarter margin, 25-17 in favor of Toledo, told the story of a nail-biter, there were moments where Ilwaco had firm control of momentum.
A 14-3 run to erase a 14-point deficit and make it a 25-22 ballgame. The Fishermen switched to a zone, doubled Cooper Fallon in the post, and dared the Riverhawks to shoot. Every 3-point attempt that clanked off the rim turned into a transition opportunity.
Ilwaco was ready to run. Toledo couldn’t slow its opponent down.
“It took us an extra couple seconds to back it out and then go instead of rushing,” Coach Fallon said. “They are mainly a man team, but what do you do against Cooper?”
The danger zone came in the third when Ilwaco used a 12-0 outburst to nab its largest lead of the night at six. The message that came before the final eight minutes was “dig deep.”
Message received.
“I believe in (this) team and we got it done,” Hill said.
Copper Fallon became the school’s all-time rebounding leader for a career with his 17 boards that paired with a game-high 22 points.
The senior currently has 1,166 rebounds and he passed Artem Wallace, who finished his career with 1,156. There’s at minimum two more games to add to the record.
“All the Wallace’s have been nagging me about it,” Cooper Fallon joked. “That was a goal I’ve been wanting to reach. It is super hard to do.”
Trevin Gale chipped in 10 points for the Riverhawks while Eli Weeks scored nine and Adam Kruger nearly recorded his own double-double with eight points and nine assists. They now get to battle Napavine for the third time this season.
Both sides won on their home floor. Round three is for all the marbles.
“I think we have to match their emotion," Coach Fallon said. “Or else, we’re in for a long day. Hopefully, we can duke it out.”
