BEARCATS FINISH STRONG IN WIN OVER COSSATOT

The largest lead in the Bearcats 73-59 win over Cossatot River Tuesday night, their third consecutive conference win, was the final margin.

With 3:52 to play a basket interference call awarded the Eagles two points and it was 61-59.

Raiden Ferguson drove the baseline for a basket with 2:53 to play to make ti 63-59 and a Jace Washburn free throw stretched it to 64-59 just 13 seconds later.

Washburn flipped a pass to Dakota Mattson on a break and Mattson drained a 3 to make it 67-59 with 1:44 to play.

A possession later it was a Ferguson assist to Mattson for a 10-point edge at 69-59.

A free throw by C.J. Johnson and a 3 by Ferguson made it nine points in less than a minute and a 12-0 run to end it.

Ferguson had just two points before the final run but made his presence felt defensively by taking a charge three times.

For Mattson the late outburst got him into double figures at 11 and Johnson’s free throw got him to nine.

Ferguson’s five points in the final run gave him seven on the night.

The free throw by Washburn gave him a 19 point night but it was Colter Fisher leading the way with 20.

Fisher had scored six of the final 10 points of the first half for the Bearcats to stretch a 28-26 lead to one of 38-30.

He also had a pair of third quarter baskets, the second of which had the Bearcats up nine, 44-35.

But, Cossatot responded with a 9-0 run to tie the game at 44. The game would also be tied at 47, 50, and 52 before the quarter ended on a Fisher basket at the buzzer.

Before that, Washburn had taken the game over on the offensive end for the Bearcat scoring eight straight points for his side, and doing so from the line and both inside and outside the arc.

Fisher started the final quarter with a free throw but a Cossatot 3 tied the game for the 10th time, at 55.

Washburn broke the tie with 7:03 to play and although he was unable to complete a three-point play the Bearcats would extend the lead to 61-55 on a Johnson basket and two Washburn free throws with 5:30 left.

An Eagle basket, followed by the basket interference call made it 61-59.

Besides his game-high 20 points, Fisher also had six assists. In addition to his 19 points Washburn pulled down nine rebounds.

The Bearcats are at home again Friday facing Cedarville. Tipoff will follow the girls game and the game will be livestreamed on Click Here and Bearcats athletics app.