Fisher's Career Night Propels Bengals Past Bears into District Championship

United States - Ekhbary News Agency

Fisher's Career Night Propels Bengals Past Bears into District Championship

In a display of individual brilliance and collective team effort, the Lewiston Bengals secured their spot in the 5A Inland Empire League district tournament championship, overpowering the Moscow Bears with a decisive 66-43 victory. The February 21 semifinal contest was highlighted by a sensational performance from Lewiston senior Royce Fisher, whose career-best scoring outburst proved too much for the Bears.

Fisher, a Lewis-Clark State College basketball commit, was the undisputed architect of the Bengals' triumph. As he exited the court in the fourth quarter with just over six minutes remaining, Lewiston held a commanding 23-point lead, and Fisher himself had amassed an incredible 33 points, personally outscoring the entire Moscow team by six at that juncture. His offensive explosion accounted for exactly half of Lewiston's total offensive output, underscoring his pivotal role in their progression. "I just come out hot and don't look back from there," Fisher remarked, epitomizing his aggressive, confident approach to the game.

The Bengals' path to the championship game was paved with consistency, having previously swept Moscow by wide margins in both regular-season encounters. Despite a somewhat flat start to the semifinal, which saw them cough up an opening possession turnover and go scoreless for nearly two minutes, Lewiston quickly found their rhythm. A pivotal moment arrived when senior Mason Way, lauded by Coach Brooks Malm for his "electric" and "phenomenal senior leadership," battled through Moscow's defense for an offensive rebound. Way then expertly whipped the ball to a wide-open Fisher beyond the arc, whose first of four triples gave the Bengals a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish.

Fisher's scoring prowess was evident throughout the game. He notched six points in the first quarter and exploded in the second, making seven shots from the floor to account for 22 of the Bengals' 30 first-half points. His ability to create his own shot, even under intense defensive pressure, was a key factor. Junior teammate Will Bobeck observed, "(When) someone guards him really hard, he'll still shoot it. He'll still have a high-percentage shot, and he can get to a spot so easily, even if there's two, three people on him." Fisher attributed this skill to his dedicated focus on improving his strength and game over time.

When asked about his mindset during such a dominant performance, Fisher offered a glimpse into an athlete's flow state: "I feel like myself. I just don't really feel anything, you know, I just don't really think. Shoot it, pass it, drive it, score." This intuitive, unburdened approach allowed him to perform at his peak, making complex plays seem effortless.

Lewiston coach Brooks Malm, while acknowledging the victory, maintained a pragmatic outlook. "The message was, 'Survive and advance.' I didn't think we played our best basketball tonight," Malm stated, emphasizing the need for continued improvement. "We have a great opportunity in front of us on Tuesday. Getting to play for another district title is something that not everybody gets to do, so for us to get to go play in it again, we're fortunate. We're going to take advantage of it." This perspective highlights a coach focused on the bigger picture, even after a significant win.

For Moscow coach Mark Smith, the narrow five-point deficit after eight minutes against a likely state-bound team signaled progress for his Bears. "Well-run program, well-coached, has been for years, and we played them better than we did the first (two) times," Smith said of Lewiston, praising his team's heart and effort. "That's the message: 'Let's carry that on to Tuesday.'" Moscow found some late offensive success, with Jonas Mordhorst leading the team with 15 points. Abram Godfrey, despite not scoring until the second half, sank a crucial hat trick of 3-pointers for an 11-point performance, including a memorable shot that ignited his student section.

Looking ahead, Lewiston will host Sandpoint in the title game at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Lewiston High School. Moscow, meanwhile, will face Lakeland of Rathdrum in a critical loser-out game at 6 p.m. at Lakeland. Coach Malm called upon the community to pack the gym for the championship, envisioning an atmosphere akin to college basketball powerhouses. "It's one thing to play five on five. It's another thing to play five on 500 or five on 5,000 and we have the community to do it," Malm asserted. "This is one of the few communities where the high school programs are still the front porch to the community. If we can come together and pull in one direction on Tuesday night, I think that we're giving ourselves a great opportunity to win, and I think it's going to be a great experience for everybody." The stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the district tournament, with high stakes for both Lewiston and Moscow as they pursue their respective season goals.

Ekhbary News Agency