After posting a 104-103 win over the #2 Seattle Super Hawks on Thursday evening, Great Falls (10-8, third place) was off to a great start this week but they ran into a tough and determined Wenatchee (WA) Bighorns team that was ready to prove that they were better than their record (6-8, fifth place) in The Basketball League’s Pacific Northwest Division in the West Conference.
Tremont Robinson White scored 29 points and KJ Houston added 22 as the host Wenatchee Bighorns put the brakes on the Great Falls Electric’s chances of a weekend sweep. Both teams were deadlocked at 24-24 after the first quarter before the Bighorns offense took over for the rest of the way in a 110-103 victory at the Chelan Community Gym. Great Falls’ top talent, Lyle Hexom and Antwaan Cushingberry accounted for 70 total points.
Antwaan Cushingberry scored seven of his game-high 32 points in the first quarter with all of them coming in the final two minutes. Teammate Lyle Hexom scored the first points of the game to finish the first twelve minutes with nine markers. KJ Houston contributed nine points for Wenatchee as both squads each had 24 points before the second quarter.
Eli Sample and Terel Jennings, Jr. scored the first seven points to stretch the lead to 31-24 during the opening minutes of the second quarter. Antwaan Cushingberry dialed up from long distance to cut the Electric’s deficit to 31-27. The host team led by ten points (37-27) and would take a 51-44 lead at halftime.
The Bighorns scored eight consecutive points (59-44) that erased the first three minutes of the third as Lyle Hexom buried a three for Great Falls. Wenatchee increased their lead to 75-62 with one quarter remaining.
The Electric fought back in the fourth and made the game exciting in the final minute. Lyle Hexom long distance trey pulled Great Falls to within four points (107-103) with 18 seconds left but a layup by Eli Sample and he made one of his two free throws for the Bighorns victory. Hexom and Cushingberry chipped in 13 points apiece during the final quarter.
Great Falls and Wenatchee played once prior to Friday’s game where the Bighorns defeated the Electric 98-82 on April 13th in Chelan, Washington. Tremont Robinson White led the winning squad with 29 points, 14 boards and five steals. Lamine Komara recorded 24 points and Lyle Hexom added 12 rebounds for the Electric.
Before making their first road trip to Great Falls on May 24-25, Wenatchee will be in Seattle, WA on Thursday, May 16th for a game with the Super Hawks and then will host the Salem (OR) Capitals on Friday, May 17th.
NEXT CONTEST: The Electric will have a bye next week (May 17-18) before hosting the Bighorns on May 24-25 for final regular season games of the 2024 TBL season. Playoffs will begin in June and the Electric will have to maintain their third place standing to qualify but the Salem Capitals (9-7) are right on their heels. TBLTV will be streaming final weekend of games.
NOTES: As a reminder, our final two home contests on May 24-25 (Memorial Day Weekend) will be played at the C.M. Russell High School Fieldhouse (instead of Great Falls High’s Swartwout Fieldhouse). Great Falls High School is the site of the 2024 Montana High School Association (MHSA) State AA and C Track Meet on that weekend. Game time is set for 7:00PM (MST) each night. Friday, May 24th is Military Night with 1,000 tickets for military personnel available at 1st Liberty Federal Credit Union.
