Bears' playoff hopes dashed in last-second thriller against Crusaders

BREWSTER – The Bears varsity basketball team saw its road to the state playoffs end, 51-50, in a thrilling crossover game against Northwest Christian Colbert in Wenatchee on Feb. 17. 

The Crusaders opened the game with a four-point lead before Brewster hit its first basket and led by three, 10-7, at the end of a low-scoring first quarter. Playing an aggressive physical defense, Northwest gave the Bears few opportunities for shots close to the basket and tried to force turnovers. The heavy defenses of both teams at each end of the court held each side to less than 20 points at halftime, with the Crusaders up 18-16.

Down by as many as 10 points in the third quarter, the Bears slowly chipped away at the lead and finally tied the game 46-all with 2:19 left in the fourth quarter, forcing the Crusaders to call a timeout. Led by its junior shooting guard, Avi West, Northwest regained the lead, 49-48, until Bears’ freshman sub, Sam Arevalo, found an open spot inside the key for a jump shot that put Brewster up, 50-49, with 8.6 seconds left on the clock.

Northwest called a timeout when the Crusaders returned to the court and went again to West for their final shot. West’s driving jumper from the left side of the basket took a couple of bounces before dropping through for the one-point win.

The Bears end their season in third place in District 6 with a 7-6 league record and 13-11 overall. It was the final game for seniors Cort Gebbers, Brady Wulf, Mario Camacho, Jr., and Kash Vandelac. Wulf was named to the 2B Central Washington All-League First Team. Gebbers was a second-team pick, and Camacho an Honorable Mention.  

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media