ROSEBURG – Stephen Patoine and Owen Cuilty hit back-to-back 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to overcome a four-point deficit and the Roseburg Indians rolled on to a 44-38 victory over the Willamette Wolverines on Friday night.
Willamette built a four-point lead over the Indians with an 8-3 run to take a 35-31 lead midway through the final period. Roseburg (9-14; 4-9 SWC) responded with a 13-3 run to finish the game, sparked by Patoine’s and Cuilty’s threes.
Noah Burke hit a 3-pointer for Willamette (7-16; 3-10 SWC) with about 15-seconds remaining to get the Wolverines back within two points, but the Indians countered with four-straight free throws to secure the win.
The contest was close from start to finish. The final six-point margin was the largest lead for either team and prior to the fourth quarter neither team led by more than three.
Cuilty and Patoine led Roseburg with 11 points each and JD Fairbairn added 10 for the Indians. Willamette’s Noah Burke finished with a game-high 16 points, 11 of which were scored in the fourth quarter.
The win keeps Roseburg’s slim hopes of a play-in game alive. The Indians moved up to No. 39 in the most recently released OSAA rankings published Friday night. The top 36 teams will make the post season and Roseburg can improve their ranking immensely by defeating No. 9 North Medford in the regular season finale on Tuesday.
WHS 5; 14; 6; 13 – 38
RHS 4; 15; 7; 18 – 44
W: Noah Burke 16; Steiner 10; Skeele 6; Trim 3; L. Burke 3; Cantu; Penn; Cooley; Reichenberger
R: Owen Cuilty 11; Stephen Patoine 11; Fairbairn 10; Luttrell 4; Paschke 4; Lucido 2; C. Stone 2; Eagan
– Joey Keeran | joey@bciradio.com | @joeykeeran