Fisher's Career Night Propels Lewiston Bengals to District Championship Berth

United States - Ekhbary News Agency

Fisher's Career Night Propels Lewiston Bengals to District Championship Berth

Lewiston, Idaho – In a display of individual brilliance and team resolve, the Lewiston Bengals secured their spot in the 5A Inland Empire League district tournament championship, triumphing over the Moscow Bears with a commanding 66-43 victory in the semifinals. The indelible performance of senior Royce Fisher, who poured in a career-high 33 points, was the undisputed catalyst for the Bengals' advancement, accounting for precisely half of the team's total offensive output.

Fisher's dominance was evident from the outset and sustained throughout the contest. By the time he exited the court with just over six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the Bengals held a comfortable 23-point lead, and Fisher himself had personally outscored the entire Moscow Bears team by six points. This remarkable feat underscores his pivotal role and offensive prowess. "I just come out hot and don't look back from there," stated Fisher, a committed Lewis-Clark State College basketball recruit, reflecting on his impactful approach. "That's all it is." His focused mindset and ability to perform under pressure were on full display, transforming a critical semifinal into a personal highlight reel.

Despite the comfortable final margin, Lewiston's start was far from flawless. The Bengals initially appeared somewhat flat, committing an opening possession turnover and enduring nearly two minutes without scoring. However, a crucial turning point arrived courtesy of senior Mason Way, whose "phenomenal senior leadership" and "electric" play, as described by Coach Brooks Malm, sparked the team. Way battled fiercely for an offensive rebound, then swiftly dished the ball to a wide-open Fisher beyond the arc. The collective sigh of relief from the purple-and-gold-clad faithful was palpable as Fisher's shot swished through the net, marking the first of his four triples and giving the Bengals a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish.

Fisher's scoring momentum was relentless. He contributed six points in the first quarter, then exploded in the second, making seven shots from the floor to account for an astounding 22 of the Bengals' 30 first-half points. Coach Malm lauded Fisher's ability to rise to the occasion: "I liked how he did what the team needed when the team needed it. Tonight he stepped up. We weren't scoring it at a super high clip and he stepped up and made some shots for us, and carried us in that first half." Fisher continued his scoring spree in the second half, adding 11 more points before being subbed out, his mission accomplished.

Lewiston junior Will Bobeck highlighted Fisher's exceptional shot-creating ability as one of his most impressive qualities. "(When) someone guards him really hard, he'll still shoot it," Bobeck explained. "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 himself confirmed this focus on developing his self-creation skills, a testament to his growth and increased strength. When asked about his state of mind during such a dominant performance, Fisher offered a glimpse into his '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."

From the Moscow Bears' perspective, coach Mark Smith viewed the performance, particularly trailing by just five points after eight minutes against a likely state-bound team, as a significant sign of progress. "Well-run program, well-coached, has been for years, and we played them better than we did the first (two) times," Smith remarked about Lewiston. "And showed a lot of heart, a lot of effort. That's the message: 'Let's carry that on to Tuesday.'" Moscow indeed demonstrated defensive grit early on and found some late offensive rhythm.

Jonas Mordhorst led Moscow with 15 points, while Abram Godfrey, who remained scoreless until the second half, ignited with a hat trick of 3-pointers en route to an 11-point performance. Godfrey's moment was particularly poignant; a junior who saw limited floor time last year, he drained a triple and celebrated exuberantly, sticking out three fingers to the roaring approval of his student section. Bobeck, reflecting on the atmosphere, shared, "It meant a lot, man. The 3 was amazing. The crowd, the energy, everything was surreal. It was just a really amazing moment for me."

Looking ahead, the Bengals are set to host Sandpoint in the district championship game at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Lewiston High School. Meanwhile, Moscow will face Lakeland of Rathdrum in a loser-out contest at 6 p.m. at Lakeland. Coach Malm expressed his hope for robust community support in the upcoming final, envisioning Lewiston High School transformed into an atmosphere akin to North Carolina's Smith Center or Gonzaga's Kennel.

Malm emphasized the profound impact of community engagement: "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. 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." This call to action highlights the broader role high school sports play in community identity, extending beyond the confines of athletic competition.

Ekhbary News Agency