The West Region opener between the Lower Columbia Red Devils and Green River Gators was big boy basketball.  You better be ready for contact and you better be ready for a tough game every night.

The Gators held off a hard charging Devil team when Kevin Baker hit two free throws with four seconds left to clinch the win. 

Seth Hall's three at the buzzer was not enough as the Gators won it 75-74.

 Hall led a furious Devil rally in the final five minutes hitting a couple of big threes. Hall had 21 points to lead LCC scoring.

Down 11 points on two occasions, the Devils kept in contact and actually had a lead at 71-70.  Alec Canete-Hall had a big three point play and also had a chance to go to the line with three free throws, but made the first and missed the next two.  Canete-Hall, playing on an injured leg, played a solid floor game and had eight points and nine assists.

Samaad Hector was a beast with 18 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks.  Hector had a good look in the waning moments but his three was just off the mark.

Martis Johnson was solid with 12 points.

Free throw shooting was a problem for LCC as the Devils hit just 8 of 16.

The Gators were led by the 22 of Kevin Baker and 21 of Alex Sommerfield.

LCC will have another tough home game on Saturday January 12th when they host rival Centralia at 7 pm.