West Albany’s boys basketball team, ranked #5 on OSAA, played against McKay High School, ranked #29, in an end-of-season game pulsing with intensity and non-stop action. On Feb. 27, students and parents alike piled into the gym to watch the final game of the season. With a jaw-dropping last-minute shot and a record-breaking score, it was a very exciting game.
At the beginning of the first quarter, WAHS immediately made a statement with three consecutive shots within the first 30 seconds of the game. While McKay did score a few times, West continued to steal the ball and score. At the end of the quarter, they had taken the lead 29-12.
By halftime, both teams had scored many points, with 46 points scored in total from quarter two alone. Senior Brysen Kachel had scored a buzzer point, bringing the Bulldogs’ lead up to 51-36. During halftime, it was announced that Kachel had achieved 1000 career points.
Going into the third quarter, the team began to include more underclassmen players, including Sophomores Tyson Walker and Jonah Lasselle. Once Walker was put in the game, he scored five times in a row. With much action, the score continued to go up. Ending the quarter with 75-52, the Bulldogs were well on their way to victory.
The final quarter started excitingly, with the home student section constantly cheering on the players. With some exciting shots made, including a dunk from Senior Jackson Strandy, everyone was anticipating the win. Right at the end of the game, Lasselle had scored a two pointer, stealing the ball back immediately, then passing it to Walker. Just seconds before the final buzzer rang, Walker scored a three pointer with the pass from Lasselle. Leaving the final score 100-65, it was a season-record score for West. Everyone, viewers and players alike, were screaming with joy, making it a game to remember. This leads the West Albany Bulldogs to the quarterfinals away from home, going against the ranked #4 Woodburn Bulldogs on Wednesday, March 5.
