After three quarters of play Tuesday night, host Lake Oswego led No. 2 West Linn 43-42.
The decisive fourth quarter featured a shushing of the crowd, a banked-in three-pointer and a flurry of scoring, but ultimately, the Lions would earn a hard-fought 62-57 road victory.
“That was a game we probably didn’t win about a month or two ago,” West Linn interim head coach Trevor Menne said.
The Lions again played without Tyler Toney on the bench — the coach suffered a stroke last week — but improved to 15-4 overall and 10-0 in the Three Rivers League. The Lakers fell to 10-10 and 6-4.
Khalid Thomas, a 6-foot-9 senior, scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half and was a perfect 10 for 10 from the line to lead the Lions. Point guard Braden Olsen added 15 points and inside presence Keishon Dawkins contributed 14.
Lake Oswego’s scoring was balanced, typical of the Lakers this season. Daniel Baumer, Cole Mehaffey and Shawn Elliott each had 12 points.
Backed by an excited student section, Lake Oswego started strong. Junior wing J.R. Schilling scored eight points in the first quarter, including two three-pointers, and the home team led 18-15 at the end of one. The Lakers would carry a 34-31 lead into halftime and nurse a one-point lead entering the fourth quarter.
The Lakers played a very disciplined game and earned the shots they wanted. Baumer, Schilling and sophomore guard Josh Angle hit some open threes, the 6-foot-9 Mehaffey played big and poised in the middle, and Elliott was the glue guy who knocked down some tough shots. And they managed the robust Lions offense on the defensive end.
But, in the fourth quarter, West Linn proved to be too sharp, too big and, essentially, too talented.
“I thought first half we kind of played selfish basketball,” Thomas said. “In the second half, we came out and moved the ball and they couldn’t stop it.”
Thomas hit a three to open the fourth quarter and give the Lions a two-point lead. Lake Oswego quickly tied the score. Minutes later, Olsen penetrated and scored a contested layup. Thomas then hit another three midway through the period to give West Linn a 52-47 lead.
“I like to be the guy that my team can count on,” Thomas said. “I take it very personally when I let them down or I can’t step up to the plate when I need to.”
Thomas certainly stepped up to the plate. He scored 10 points in the final quarter and was as vocal as anyone on the court.
With 1:07 remaining, Thomas put the Lions up 58-52 by hitting two free throws and then turned to the Lakers student section and “shushed” them with a finger to his lips.
That was not terribly out of character. Throughout the game, Thomas was fervent and emotional, rallying his team with chants and body language.
“I would describe myself as a very passionate player. I wear my emotions on my sleeve,” Thomas said.
The student section quickly returned to cheering, however, as Angle hit an easy layup and then, moments later, Baumer scored a deep three that hit the window and fell through the hoop.
With 33 seconds left, the Lakers trailed just 59-57.
But the excitement would end there. Olsen went 2 for 2 on a one-and-one from the line, and Lake Oswego’s final looks at the basket, albeit good ones, did not go down, and West Linn survived with a five-point victory.
Neither team led by more than six at any point during the game. After beating the Lakers 72-61 at home Jan. 23, West Linn knew to expect a tough one Tuesday.
“They are so solid with the ball,” Menne said. “They’re a team that’s always in control. They pass it really well. They’re not gonna get scared and throw it away. That made us adjust and work on our half-court defense.”
Said Olsen: “They’re very fundamental and they don’t make too many turnovers.”
The Lions improved to 3-0 during Toney’s absence, although the coach was watching from the stands, just as he was Monday at Lakeridge.
West Linn has four more regular-season league games, including two tough home tests against 14-5 Tualatin and 13-5 Lakeridge.
Tuesday night, the Lions showed they can win a close game against a disciplined opponent.
“Second half, we came out and we weren’t always smart,” Menne said. “But we played with the edge and the toughness that we have to have going down the stretch.”
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