(Lakewood, WA) – Red Devil sophomore
Cole Hardy cashed in at the end.
In a game that featured nine ties and 12 lead changes, it was Lower Columbia who hit the shot they would need. Down one with time ticking away,
Sherman Royal III found a cutting Hardy who hit a runner with 11 seconds left to give LCC a 67-66 win over Pierce on Saturday January 21
st in Lakewood.
After Royal's game winning assist, the Devils still needed to stop the Raiders who called timeout with six seconds left. Michael Ajayi, who led Pierce with a game-high 26 points, was forced into a tough shot that was off the mark and Royal's rebound preserved the LCC victory.
Each team's largest lead was just six. This was a back-and-forth affair and the game may have been closer than it should have because LCC was just 14 for 23 from the free throw line.
Emanuel Steward had 19 points to pace the LCC scoring. Royal had 11 points and eight rebounds not to mention the game winning assist.
Also in double-figures was
Kaden Horn with 11 points and Hardy with 10.
Of the LCC bench,
Carter McCoy had eight points and
Ashton Harvey had seven points and six rebounds.
The Devils are 3-1 in the West and 13-5 overall. Next up is a rivalry home game with Centralia on Wednesday January 25
th. With no women's game scheduled, the tip-off of the men's game will be at 6 pm at Myklebust Gym.
