Prep Boys Basketball: Roseburg’s second-half slump leads to 73-55 loss at Willamette

EUGENE — The Roseburg boys basketball team got out to a promising start against Willamette in a Southwest Conference game Friday night at the Wolverine Den, but the Indians lost momentum in the second half as the Wolverines cruised to a 73-55 win.

Roseburg (0-20, 0-8 SWC) got out to a sluggish start and fell behind 11-1 midway through the first quarter. The Indians rallied and drew to within 16-14 to begin the second period.

The Indians briefly took a lead in the second quarter. Jaden Kemmerle drained a corner 3-point shot to put Roseburg ahead 21-19 and Tristen Frable sank a fallaway jumper to put the Indians up by four with 4:41 left in the first half.

Willamette (6-14, 2-6) ramped up its pressure and finished the half on a 19-7 run. Jordan Giles got a steal and nailed a bank-shot 3-pointer as time expired to send the Wolverines to the locker room with a 35-30 advantage.

The lead grew to double figures in the third quarter and Willamette put the game out of reach with an 18-11 advantage in the fourth quarter.

Ambrose Gardner III had a game-high 28 points to lead the Wolverines. Canaan Burke added 15 and Jordan Giles chipped in 10 for Willamette.

The win snapped a six-game skid for the Wolverines.

Roseburg senior Harrison Scott finished with 23 points. Gannon Egbert added seven.

The Indians will host the North Medford Black Tornado at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday.

ROSEBURG (55) — Harrison Scott 23, Egbert 7, Frable 6, Kemmerle 6, Sprague 6, Michael 4, Brown 3, Lobo. Totals 21 8-20 55.

WILLAMETTE (73) — Ambrose Gardner III 28, Burke 15, Giles 10, Smith 8, Grandberry 6, Akers 5, McCann 1, Alyworth, Campbell, Hafemann. Totals 30 9-18 73.

Roseburg;14;16;14;11;—;55

Willamette;16;19;20;18;—;73

3-Point Goals — Rose. 5 (Kemmerle 2, Scott 1, Frable 1, Brown 1), Will. 4 (Giles 2, Burke 2). Total Fouls — Rose. 15, Will. 19. Fouled Out — Sprague, Grandberry. Technical Fouls — Sprague.

JV Score — Willamette 39, Roseburg 25.