St. John Bosco finishes third at District
The St. John Bosco Patriots were a point away from making it to State for the first time since 2016 as they had to settle for third at District.
On Tuesday, Feb. 21, they lost to Kendrick 55-69 at Lapwai, dropping them into the loser’s bracket. In a game rescheduled from Wednesday due to a storm that closed some schools in the area, they beat Deary for the first time this season 59-49 on Thursday, Feb. 23 at Lapwai to advance to the second place game. Finally on Friday, Feb. 24 they overcame a 10 point deficit with 2:20 to play to force overtime only to lose to Timberline 54-64. The Spartans advanced to State for the fourth straight year
After beating Highland in a play-in game the Patriots went up against #1 seed Kendrick. The Patriots too their only lead of the game when Clay Weckman scored the game’s first points.
Kendrick answered with 5 straight points before Tory Chmelik made a pair of free throws to cut the lead to 1. Kendrick then scored 7 straight to take a 4-12 lead.
The Patriots were able to pull back within 2 as Weckman made a pair of 3-pointers and Cody Wassmuth made a lay-up to make it 12-14. After a Kendrick basket, Luke Stubbers made a basket to again cut the lead to 2.
Kendrick led 14-18 at the end of the first quarter.
Levi Wassmuth scored to open the second quarter and again cut the lead to 2 points but that was the last time they were that close. Kendrick steadily added to their lead through the second quarter until they had a 27-35 lead at the half. Cody Wassmuth scored 6 in the quarter and Weckman scored 5 while Levi Wassmuth scored the remaining 2 points.  Kendrick however got 9 points from Nathan Tweit to help them take an 8-point lead at the half.
Kendrick again built on their lead in the third quarter as they outscored the Patriots 13-18 to take a 40-53 lead into the fourth quarter. Turnovers killed the Patriots attempt to get back into the game as Kendrick steals led to several lay-ups in transition. Weckman scored 5 in the quarter while Chmelik scored 4. Cody Wassmuth and Stubbers each scored 2.
The two teams played almost even in the fourth quarter with the Patriots unable to cut the lead down to less than 10. They trailed 45-55 with 5:53 left after a 3 by Chmelik but Kendrick then had a 2-10 run that put them up by 18 at 47-65 with 1:55 to play.
Weckman made five 3-pointers and wound up with 23 points to lead the Patriots in scoring. Cody Wassmuth scored 13, Chmelik 11, Stubbers 6 and Levi Wassmuth 2.
The Patriots dominated the boards 46-27 with Chmelik pulling down 14 rebounds and Cody Wassmuth 10 to lead the team.
Cody Wassmuth had 2 steals and 4 assists while Weckman had 2 steals and 3 assists. Chmelik also had 3 assists.
St. John Bosco was 22 for 58 from the field, 38%, and 3 for 6 at the line, 50%. Kendrick was 27 for 60 from the field, 45%, and 8 for 13 at the line, 62%.
SJB          14 13 13 15 -55
Kendrick 18 17 18 16 -69
SJB-C. Wassmuth 5-14, 1-2, 13; Stubbers 3-7, 0-0, 6; Weckman 9-21, 0-0, 23; Chmelik 4-10, 2-4, 11; L. Wassmuth 1-6, 0-0, 2; Warren 0-0, 0-0, 0; Uhlenkott 0-0, 0-0, 0. 3-pointers-Weckman 5, C. Wassmuth 2, Chmelik.
Kendrick-Clemenhagen 1-3, 0-0, 2; Hewett 6-14, 0-0, 14; Tweit 9-14, 6-8, 25; Taylor 7-13, 0-1, 17; Koepp 4-12, 2-4, 11; Cook 0-1, 0-0, 0; Kimberling 0-2, 0-0, 0; Boyer 0-1, 0-0, 0. 3-pointers-Taylor 3, Hewett 2, Tweit, Koepp.
In an elimination game that was originally scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 22, but moved to Thursday due to the snowstorm Tuesday night that closed some area schools, the Patriots faced a Deary team that had beaten them twice during the season, both times by at least 9 points.
This time was different. Stubbers got the scoring started with a baseline shot then Deary tied it. Stubbers then put the Patriots ahead to stay with a 3-pointer. Weckman followed with a free throw for a 6-2 lead. After a Deary basket, Levi Wassmuth scored inside. After a Deary free throw, Weckman sank a 3-pointer to make it 11-5. After another Deary free throw, Levi Wassmuth scored a putback and then rebounded his missed attempt at a 3-point play and was fouled again, making the first of 2 free throws. Stubbers added a free throw for a 15-6 lead. A 3-pointer by Deary’s Laithan Proctor made it 15-9 at the end of the first quarter.
Bosco opened the second quarter scoring when Weckman drove into the lane and then dished to the right to a wide open Levi Wassmuth for a lay-up. Deary then outscored the Patriots 1-7 to cut the lead to just 2 points at 18-16. Stubbers scored but Deary answered to make it 20-18 with 2:28 left in the half. Bosco then closed out the half with a 4 straight points. Levi Wassmuth and Matthew Warren each made a free throw and Stallone Hoene scored a putback at the buzzer to make it 24-18 at the half.
Deary twice cut the lead to 4 in the third quarter then Bosco scored 6 straight to take a double digit lead at 32-22. Weckman scored 2 baskets and a steal by Warren led to a lay-up by Chmelik.After a basket by Deary, Bosco had a 10-0 run to push the lead to 18. Cody Wassmuth drove full court for a lay-up. Stubbers then scored a basket and Warren made consecutive 3-pointers for a 42-24 lead with 1:19 left in the third quarter.
A 3 by Deary’s Blaine Clark made it 42-27 at the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter the Patriots were 3 for 5 from the field but Deary sent them to the free throw line for 20 free throw attempts as 3 Mustangs fouled out trying to get the Patriots to miss free throws so they could get back into the game.
Bosco made 11 of those 20 free throws, which was enough to keep them with a double digit for nearly the entire fourth quarter. Deary got it down to 9 once at 55-46 with 1:00 to play but 4 straight points at the line pushed the lead back to 13. Deary made a final 3-pointer that cut the final margin to 10 points.
Stubbers led the Patriots in scoring with 14 points while Weckman and Levi Wassmuth were both also in double figures with 13 and 12 points respectively. Warren scored 9, Chmelik 8 and Hoene and Cody Wassmuth 2 each.
Deary had a 49-56 edge on the boards. Chmelik had 17 rebounds to lead the Patriots while Levi Wassmuth had a double-double with 10 rebounds. Weckman added 8 boards.
Weckman had 2 steals and 3 assists while Warren had 2 steals and Levi Wassmuth had 3 assists.
Bosco was 19 for 46 from the field, 41%, and 17 for 40 at the line, 43%. Deary was 19 for 74 from the field, 26%, and 5 for 14 at the line, 36%.
Each team had just 11 turnovers. Deary was whistled for 28 fouls while Bosco was called for 15.
SJB  15 9 18 17 -59
Deary 9 9   9 22 -49
SJB-C. Wassmuth 1-2, 0-1, 2; Stubbers 6-13, 1-5, 14; Weckman 3-9, 6-9, 13; Chmelik 1-7, 5-7, 7; L. Wassmuth 4-7, 4-14, 12; Hoene 1-2, 0-0, 2; Warren 3-6, 1-2, 9; Uhlenkott 0-0, 0-0, 0. 3-pointers-Warren 2, Weckman, Stubbers.
Deary-Proctor 5-20, 0-0, 13; Rickerd 5-21, 3-5, 13; Clark 3-19, 0-1, 8; Rickert 3-5, 2-4, 9; Fletcher 1-3, 0-0, 2; Ashmead 0-3, 0-2, 0; Vincent 1-2, 0-2, 2; Stapleton 1-1, 0-0, 2. 3-pointers-Proctor 3, Clark 2, Rickert.
St. John Bosco faced Timberline with a chance at their first State Tournament appearance since 2016 when the older brothers of 3 of the current players were on the team.
The Patriots got off to a strong start as Weckman hit a pair of 3-pointers to open the scoring and give Bosco a 6-0 lead. Timberline came back with a 2-9 run to give them their first lead at 8-9 on a 3-pointer by Parker Brown.
A basket by Cody Wassmuth and a free throw by Levi Wassmuth put the Patriots back on top at 11-9. However Brown hit another 3 pointer in the final seconds to give Timberline an 11-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Timberline scored to open the second quarter but a basket each by Stubbers and Chmelik put the Patriots back on top at 15-14.
The lead lasted only about a minute as Timberline scored 6 straight points to take a 15-20 lead.
Bosco answered back with their own 6-0 run as Stubbers, Levi Wassmuth and Weckman each scored to put the Patriots back on top at 21-20 with 1:28 left in the half. Timberline scored with 40 seconds left to give them a 21-22 lead at the break.
Timberline scored to open the second half but Chmelik answered with a basket after making a steal. Timberline answered but Bosco tied the score at 26-26 on a 3-pointer by Cody Wassmuth.
Timberline then scored 7 straight points to take back the lead and held it until the final seconds of regulation.
Cody Wassmuth sank another 3 and then later added a free throw. Chmelik and Levi Wassmuth each added a basket in the quarter but Timberline matched the Patriots with 8 points of their own and took a 34-41 lead into the fourth quarter.
A basket each by Stubbers and Levi Wassmuth trimmed the lead to 3 at 38-41. Timberline responded with a 0-7 run to take a 10-point lead, their biggest of the game.
A basket by Weckman was answered by 2 free throws as Timberline still led by 10 at 40-50 with 2:22 to play.
Levi Wassmuth made the first of 2 free throws then rebounded his missed second shot and was fouled again, adding another free throw to make it 42-50 with 2:08 left.
The Patriots went to a full-court press to try to cut into the lead. Stubbers hit from the baseline then Levin Wassmuth made a pair of baskets to cut the lead to 48-50 with 1:20 left.
Brown made a pair of free throws to put Timberline back on top by 4 with 1:08 left.
A steal by Levi Wassmuth led to 2 free throws by Chmelik with 44 seconds left. Stubbers then stole the ball which eventually led to him scoring with 12 seconds left to tie the game at 52-52.
Timberline called timeout but seemed to be playing for overtime rather than trying to win as they wound up missing an awkward shot at the buzzer.
For whatever reason, the Patriots took the press off in overtime and Timberline was able to settle down and get the ball downcourt. Neither team scored in the extra period until Brown hit a 25+ foot 3-pointer at the 2:23 mark. Bosco missed a shot with Timberline rebounding and Brown swished another deep 3 and suddenly the Patriots were down 6 with 1:55 to play. Brown added a 2-pointer to push the lead to 8 points with 50 seconds left.
Weckman scored what turned out to be the Patriots’ only points in overtime with 34 seconds left. Timberline added 4 more points, 2 of them free throws by Brown who scored the Spartans first 10 points of the extra session.
Stubbers and Weckman wound up as the Patriots’ leading scorers with 12 points each. Levi Wassmuth scored 11, Cody Wassmuth 9, Chmelik 8 and Warren 2.
Timberline had a 38-46 edge on the boards. Stubbers led the Patriots with 12 rebounds with Chmelik adding 9.
Levi Wassmuth had 6 steals while Stubbers and Chmelik had 4 each. Cody Wassmuth had 6 assists while Chmelik had 5.
SJB committed 19 turnovers compared to 22 by Timberline.
The Patriots were 22 for 64 from the field, 34%, and 6 for 13 at the line, 46%. Timberline was 24 for 59 from the field, 41%, and 10 for 16 at the line, 63%.
It was the final game for 4 seniors who helped restart the program in the 2019-20 season with a JV only schedule after not having a team the 3 previous seasons. Those seniors are Cody Wassmuth, Luke Stubbers, Clay Weckman and Tory Chmelik. Wassmuth, Stubbers and Chmelik each had brothers on that 2016 team that last went to state. Those brothers were Luke and Justin Wassmuth, Jake Stubbers and Patrick Chmelik.
SJB           11 10 13 18   2 -54
Timberline 12 10 19 11 12 -64
SJB-C. Wassmuth 3-9, 1-2, 9; Stubbers 6-16, 0-0, 12; Weckman 5-17, 0-2, 12; Chmelik 3-12, 2-2, 8; L. Wassmuth 4-7, 4-7, 11; Warren 1-3, 0-0, 2; Uhlenkott 0-0, 0-0, 0; Hoene 0-0, 0-0, 0. 3-pointers-C. Wassmuth 2, Weckman 2.
Timberline-Brown 8-17, 5-7, 25; West 5-8, 0-0, 12; Tuikolovatu 3-5, 2-2, 8; Hunter 1-9, 2-2, 4; Christopherson 5-12, 1-2, 11; Nelson 2-7, 0-2, 4. 3-pointers-Brown 4, West 2.

Boys team has JV, girls don’t
First game starts at 6 p.m. unless indicated.
Home games are played at Highland High School in Craigmont.

12-Girls vs. Cascade at Highland, 5 p.m, lost 24-34
17-Girls at C.V., lost 12-55

  1-Boys at Meadows Valley, 5 p.m., V only--cancelled due to snowy road conditions
  2-Girls vs. C.V. at Highland; Boys vs. Logos Online at Highland, V only, 5:30/7 p.m., girls lost 20-71, boys won 54-29
  6-Boys and Girls at Kendrick 4:30 p.m., Boys JV/V, Girls V, girls lost 14-55, boys lost 38-69
  8-Boys at Timberline, JV/V , won 53-43
10-Girls vs. North Star Charter at Timberline of Boise, 4:45 MST, won 43-14
13-Boys and Girls at Nezperce, V only, Boys won 68-41, Girls lost 23-35
15-JV Boys vs. Clarkston C at Highland, 6 p.m. no info available
15-Girls vs. Clarkston Frosh at Highland, 7:30 p.m. no info available, game may have been cancelled due to a power outage at Craigmont.
19-Boys JV & V at Orofino, 5:30 p.m. No info available

  5-JV Boys at Clarkston, 5:30 p.m.
  5-Girls at Clarkston, 7 p.m.
  6-Boys and Girls vs. Deary at Highland, B JV/V, G V, 4:30 p.m., Girls lost 17-49, Boys lost 27-51
  9-Boys at Grangeville, 7:30 p.m., lost 50-64
10-Boys at Logos Online, V only,  no score available
12-Boys and Girls at Highland, B JV/V, G V, 4:30 p.m., Boys won 63-50, Girls won 37-19
14-Boys vs. Coeur du Christ at Highland, V only 2 p.m., no info available
17-Boys and Girls vs. Kendrick at Highland, B JV/V, G V, 4:30 p.m. , Boys lost 46-67; Girls lost 18-62
20-Girls at Cascade, 5 p.m. PST, no score available
24-Boys and Girls vs. Nezperce at Highland, V only, Boys won 49-33, Girls lost 31-54
26-Boys and Girls at Deary, B JV/V, G V, 4:30 p.m., Boys lost51-60, Girls lost 16-44
30-Boys JV & V at Orofino, 5:30 p.m., lost 45-68
31-Boys and Girls home game vs. Highland at Highland, B JV/V, G V, 4:30 p.m., Boys won 62-48, Girls won 43-14

  3-Girls District opener vs. Highland, won 33-17
  4-Boys at Meadows Valley, 1 p.m. MST, no info available.
  6-Boys vs Timberline at Highland JV/V, 5 p.m., rescheduled from Jan. 21, lost 52-62
  6-Girls second round District game vs. Kendrick at Lapwai, lost 18-50
  9-Boys at Grangeville, V only, 7:30 p.m., lost 47-57
  9-Girls District Elimination game against Nezperce at Lapwai, 6 p.m., lost 25-40
10-Boys vs. Meadows Valley at Highland, V only, 6 p.m., cancelled, rescheduled and then cancelled again.
20-24-Boys District, beat Highland 67-51, lost to Kendrick 55-69, beat Deary 59-49, lost to Timberline 54-64 in overtime.