Broncos advance to semifinals

SPOKANE—The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague/Washtucna Broncos boys team came into the 2B state tournament at the Spokane Arena ranked No. 9, but one wouldn’t know that based on LRS’s performance through two games.

The Broncos pulled away from No. 8 Adna in a loser-out game 61-46 Wednesday, March 1 and upset No. 2 Morton-White Pass 51-44 to advance to the state semifinals Thursday, March 2.

Adna and LRS played neck-and-neck for two and a half quarters. The Pirates and Broncos were tied 14-14 after a quarter, then LRS took a 26-25 into halftime.

The Broncos finally gained some separation late in the third quarter, building a 44-38 lead that blossomed into double digits four minutes into the final period.

Jayce Kelly had a big game for LRS, pouring in 24 points. Chase Galbreath added 13 points and Hunter Dinkins had 11 points for the Broncos.

“We kind of wore them out a little bit. Got it to six heading into the fourth,” LRS head coach Dustan Arlt said. “Got a little shaky with a couple minutes to go but pulled it out and to hold another team under 50 (points) and win by 15 points with it being a one-point game at halftime, that’s a heck of a win right there.”

Braeden Salme led Adna with 18 points.

The win sent Adna packing and pushed LRS into a quarterfinal matchup with the vaunted Timberwolves, who came into the tournament as one of the state title favorites.

The Broncos took a 13-11 lead in the first quarter. Six-foot seven-inch MWP post Josh Salguero put up seven points but picked up two quick fouls.

Salguero’s foul trouble proved pivotal, as the post headed to the bench with his third foul with 5:11 left in the first half as LRS expanded its lead to 19-11.

LRS led 23-18 at halftime behind eight points from Dinkins and six points from Galbreath. Meanwhile, MWP missed several layups that would’ve put the favorite up by multiple possessions at the break.

The Broncos kept the pressure on, getting scores from eight players throughout the game and building a lead as large as 11. Salguero only played half the game with foul trouble and could never get in a rhythm, and the upset was apparent with three minutes to play.

LRS would win 51-44, a season-low in points for MWP.

“It was just a great team effort. Scrappy, gritty,” Arlt said. “We did just enough. We hit some big shots (and) never let them get rolling.”

Galbreath led the charge with 16 points. Kelly had nine points, all in the fourth quarter.

Dinkins added eight points, while Nick Labes and Hayden Melcher scored five key points apiece for LRS.

Hunter Hazen led MWP with 20 points, while Salguero managed 13 points.

LRS advanced to the semifinals against Brewster, which defeated Napavine Wednesday. The Broncos and Bears square off at 5:30 p.m. Friday, March 3.