Warden boys win in OT

Kittitas - Garrit Marks scored 15 points and pulled down 11 rebounds, Nate Coles added 12 points, and Jerry Reyes finished with 8 to lead Warden to a thrilling 53-50 overtime road win against the Coyotes Tuesday.

"Kittitas and Warden games are always exciting," coach Wes Richins said. "This game had so many highs and lows, it probably wasn't good for people with heart conditions to watch"

The game was a see-saw battle as Kittitas jumped out to a 19-9 lead at the end of the first quarter, only to have Warden hang 19 points on the board to the Coyotes 7 in the second quarter of action, and send Warden into the locker room at the half up 28-26.

Kittitas went back up top 38-36 at the end of the third quarter, but the Cougars scored 12 points to the Coyotes 10 in the fourth, which saw Reyes knock down a shot at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.

"We traded the lead several times as Kittitas took a two point lead into the fourth.  After trading the lead again a couple times, their lead went to five with a minute left," Richins said. "Then we pulled within three on a basket by Louie Reyes, and after holding them, we got the ball back and Louie was fouled with 12 seconds left. He made one of two to cut lead down to two.  Osvaldo Alba broke up the inbound toss, which gave us the ball with eight seconds left and Nate Cole drove the length of the court and penetrated and dished to Jerry Reyes who hit a lay in at the buzzer."

Jerry Reyes hit one of two shots from the charity stripe, and another bucket in overtime to pull out the win.

"It was ugly at times as we couldn't get a board and couldn't hit the broad side of a barn shooting wise," Richins said. "But it was a nice win because they beat us in OT in the same type of game a couple of years ago."

Warden is back in action tonight when the Cougars open league play at home against Kiona-Benton at 7:30 p.m.