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DAYTON–The Pomeroy Pirates fell juuuuust a basketball bounce short of a win in a SE1B District rematch with the Liberty Christian Patriots, who in their second meeting of the tournament, turned the Pirates away with a 37-33 decision for the third berth to state here Feb. 16.

The Buccaneers were behind 34-33 when Boone Schmidt launched a three pointer that doinked off the rim, when up and tapped the top of the backboard, then dropped straight down and in, a bucket that had it not touched to backboard, would've given Pomeroy a 34-32 lead with 33 seconds to play.

But Liberty Christian successfully ran out the clock, adding three free throws in those final seconds while Pirate shots glanced off and the 37-33 final ended the season for the 18-5 Pirates.

Pomeroy looked poised to repeat winning against Liberty Christian after rallying from a chilly first half where the Patriots took a 21-12 lead and blanking LC in the third quarter. But the Pats won the fourth quarter 16-10 for a state berth.

"This was a tough loss," Head Coach Chris Wolf said. "We got into early foul trouble with both Trace [Roberts] and Ollie [Severs] picking up two early fouls.

"We were struggling to score without our two senior leaders on the floor and got held to 12 first-half points," he said. "Then we came out in the third quarter and held them to 0 points and took a two-point lead into the fourth quarter. The lead changed hands several times, but we just came up short."

LC's zone defense and press put a crimp on the Pirate offense in the first half, a late trey by Kyzer Herres salvaging some respectability for the Bucs before the first quarter ended 11-6.

Severs returned to the court at 5:50 in the second quarter and immediately pushed into the paint with a pair of buckets.

Behind 21-12, Roberts took a Severs assist to the hole, then Jett Slusser drained back-to-back threes to cut the difference to one point behind. The Patriots pulled the pressure and possessions exchanged until Herres was fouled and stepped to the line, splitting two gifters and tying it 21-21. Herres then rebounded a last-second Slusser jumper for two and a 23-21 Pomeroy lead to start the fourth quarter.

Both teams were going full out in the fourth with the lead changing five times before Trevor Haak's trey with 1:56 to go put LC up for good, 32-31.

Williamson and Herres traded buckets and then Schmidt's trey touched the top of the backboard, negating a three pointer that would've made it 36-34. In the end game, the Patriots prevailed as their low foul count gobbled the clock as the Bucs worked for an open go-ahead look

Severs led the way with 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Herres had eight points and four rebounds. Braxton McKeirnan subbed in while Roberts and Severs were sidelined and had six points, four rebounds and two assists.

"This was a really fun team to coach this year," Wolf said. "We will miss Trace and Ollie next year but have a good group returning."

Pomeroy 46, Gar-Pal 41

Trailing by four points as the fourth quarter got underway, Severs took control of the Pirates' destiny and muscled his way through the paint for six unanswered points, then Slusser stepped into the fray with two key-driving buckets to lift the Buccaneers out of the doldrums and propel them to a 46-41 win over Garfield-Palouse and a date with Liberty Christian.

Pomeroy blew out of the gate with a 16-8 lead over the Vikings thanks to three pointers by Slusser, Severs, Roberts and Herres. As Pomeroy's nets smoldered, Gar-Pal's shots were clanking out and Roberts and Severs were snaring rebounds.

As the seconds counted down on the second quarter, Slusser dribbled to find an opening to shoot a three, bobbled the dribble and cast off toward the hoop anyway. Severs, in position for the rebound, put up a bunnie-which tinkled out-but he rebounded the miss and it dunkled in a whisker before the buzzer and a 24-20 half time score.

The Vikings amped up their defense in the third quarter and the Pirates seemed to be off balance while Gar-Pal's 5-9 guard Lane Collier burned up the floor, leading his team with a trio of buckets and three free throws. Then Brendan Snekvik blasted a trey to add to Pomeroy's pain, ending three with the Vikes leading 34-30.

Opening the fourth quarter, Severs and Slusser combined for 10 unanswered points and Gar-Pal helped with a few turnovers along the way.

Slusser fed Severs for the first bucket in the paint. Getting back on defense, Severs swiped the ball and took it to the hole to tie the game 34-34.

The D held again and the Pirates worked the ball in to Roberts who dished to Severs for the lead with about six minutes remaining.

Defense again held the Vikings at bay, and Slusser brought the ball up and pierced a lane to the bucket for Pomeroy's eighth straight point. Gar-Pal again turned the ball over and Slusser again penetrated the paint for another bucket and a 40-34 margin with 2:57 on the clock.

Collier finally broke the ice for GP with a basket and Slusser's next shot caromed out. Collier drove and Boone Schmidt was whistled with his fourth foul, sending the sophomore guard to the line where he missed the first and made the second with 1:49 on the clock.

The ball was worked around the perimeter and in to Severs who scored on the third offensive rebound.

But 6-2 Viking guard Liam Cook rattled the hoop with a three pointer at the one-minute mark, shaving the difference to 42-40.

After a time out, Pomeroy executed and Slusser's drive to the basket was good at :44 and a four-point lead. Collier pushed into the paint and drew Roberts's fourth foul at :36 remaining, Collier muffing the first but hitting the second.

Coach Chris Wolf called a time out and started a play but GP's Snekvik fouled Slusser-the team's third foul. After another time out, GP again fouled and with 15.8 on the clock, Collier fouled Slusser, who swished both gifters for the 46-41 final.

Liberty Christian 37, Pomeroy 33 (2/16)

Pom 6 6 11 10-33

LC 11 10 0 16-37

-East Washingtonian photo

Kyzer Herres (22) came through with some big plays during the District Tournament.

Pomeroy (33) McKeirnan 3 0-0 6, Slusser 2 0-0 6, Herres 3 1-2 8, Severs 4 0-1 10, Roberts 1 1-2 3. Totals 14 2-5 33

Liberty Christian (37) Haak 5 2-3 15, Wiilliamson 2 0-0 6, , Grover 2 3-4 7, Cole 3 2-2 9, Totals 12 7-9 37.

Three-point goals: Liberty Christian 6-Haak 3, Williamson 2, Cole. Pomeroy 5-Slusser 2, Herres, Severs 2.

Gar-Pal 41, Pomeroy 46 (2/14)

Pom 16 8 6 16-46

GP 8 12 14 7-41

Pomeroy (46) Reisinger 1 0-2 2, McKeirnan 2 0-0 4, Slusser 5 4-5 15, Herres 0 0-0 0, Morfin 0 0-0 0, Ledgerwood 0 0-0 0, Schmidt 1 0-2 3, Severs 8 0-0 17, Roberts 2 0-0 5, Totals 19 4-9 46

Gar-Pal (41) Collier 8 5-10 22, Cook 2 0-2 5, B. Snekvik 3 0-2 9, Orr 2 0-0 5. Totals 15 5-14 41

Three-point goals: Gar-Pal 6-Collier, Cook, B. Snekvik 3, Orr. Pomeroy 4-Slusser, Schmidt, Severs, Roberts.