The Pullman Greyhounds (15-5, 9-1 Greater Spokane League) beat the West Valley (Spokane) Eagles (17-3, 7-3 GSL) 55-48 in a game of runs to take home the 2A Greater Spokane League regular season title.
The game started with Pullman senior Champ Powaukee making a three and a West Valley turnover on both teams’ first possession. Pullman continued to carry that momentum with a 10-0 run in the first 2:32 of the game, in which Powaukee had 8 of the 10.
West Valley settled in once they started to press Pullman after calling a timeout and went on a run of their own, 15-6, to end the first quarter down one.
Powaukee drove the baseline for a layup to start the second quarter. There was not a lot of scoring in the rest of the first half. Pullman was up 26-23 at halftime, with Powaukee and junior Daniel Kwon combining for 19 of Pullman’s 26 points in the first half.
Pullman started the second half on a 10-2 run to go up 36-25. With 1:58 left in the third quarter, West Valley senior Parker Munns received a technical that ignited a run to close out the third quarter down by one, 40-39.
Powaukee had 19 of Pullman’s 40 points after three quarters.
In the fourth quarter, West Valley went cold, and Kwon executed when his team needed him with two key floaters to extend Pullman’s lead down the stretch.
Two players finished in double figures for Pullman with Powaukee scoring 21 and Kwon scoring 13.
Powaukee celebrated senior night along with fellow seniors Austin Hunt, Alex Bickelhaupt, Cade Hill, Kristopher Schroeder and Caleb Northcroft.
“They are great kids. They have come in to work for the last four years and done everything I have asked of them and caused me no problems whatsoever. Whatever I ask them to do, they are willing to make the extra effort,” said Pullman head coach Craig Brantner.
The record for this senior class is 74-11 with four league championships, including a second-place finish in state in 2022 and a third-place finish in 2023.
Pullman’s next game is against the winner of Clarkston-Shadle Park at 6 p.m. Thursday at Pullman High School.
