Fourth quarter falloffs frustrated the Evergreen Lutheran boys' attempts to clinch a SeaTac 2B League playoff spot in a 57-51 loss to Tacoma Baptist as part of the annual Winter Fest activities at the Des Moines campus on Saturday, Jan. 28.

The Eagles are now tied with the Crusaders in fourth place with records of 3-5. Evergreen Lutheran could have clinched a playoff spot with a win, but still has a point differential advantage against the Crusaders in their split games if both teams remain tied at the end of the season. EL needs to take care of its own business, including a Jan. 30 make up game against visiting Cross Point (Bremerton).

"Tacoma Baptist just had too many free throws (17-of-27 to Evergreen Lutheran's 10-of-19)," observed Eagle head coach Jeff Kurbis. "When we took too many outside shots, we were not getting the ball to the high post. That's not our game. We need to get to the hoop and keep away from unfortunate turnovers. Even our shooting (31.7 per cent) was down."

It came down to a critical fourth quarter play that embodied the unfortunate turnovers that plagued Evergreen Lutheran throughout.

After Kim Pine's free throw had the Eagles within 49-45 midway through the quarter, Evergreen Lutheran made a defensive stop and took possession. Passing the ball near midcourt, the Eagles telegraphed the direction of a pass and Brandon Stoehr undid the home team by intercepting the pass and driving home a lay up for a 51-45 Crusader margin with 3:39 left.

One minute later, Karl Leitzke of EL scored on the inside to bring the home team within 51-47, but three consecutive free throws pushed the advantage up to 54-47.

Despite frantic defensive tactics, the Eagles were unable to sustain enough offense to get closer than five points the rest of the way.

Evergreen Lutheran overcame a 7-0 deficit to gain a 14-11 lead after one quarter. Trading the short leads, the Des Moines team led 22-19 following back-to-back buckets from Karl Leitzke and Keaton Kinerk. At halftime, EL owned a 26-23 edge.

More back-and-forth battling commenced after Jayson Kjenstad's three-pointer enlarged the Eagle lead to 29-23 at the beginning of the second half.

Five consecutive points by Tacoma Baptist put the Crusader in front, 33-32. Steve Lawrence swished in an outside shot for a 34-33 Eagles lead and Evergreen Lutheran led 38-36 at the end of three after two ties with Sam Shannon snapping a 36-36 draw with a basket,.

Trading minimal leads, the Eagles grabbed their final lead of the game at 44-43 on a Lawrence basket at 5:36. Five consecutive TB points coming primarily off EL turnovers turned the game over to the Crusaders at 49-44, setting up the stretch run.

Kjenstad powered the Eagles on 22 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Lawrence popped home 10 points and added seven rebounds while Shannon scored 10 points with five rebounds, five assists and three blocked shots.

"We could have used one more double figures scorer," added Kurbis.

Andrew Goyins did not play for the Eagles.

Brandon Hughey notched 18 TB points. Also aiding the Crusader offense were Scott Peterson with 12 points and Dayton Pascua at 11. Dalton Wintersole grabbed 10 rebounds to go with eight points.

On Jan. 24, Evergreen traveled to Lacey and absorbed 73-66 non-league defeat from the Northwest Christian High School Navigators. A 21-14 first quarter and a 23-17 second quarter guided the Navigators away, but EL climbed back within 57-52 after three quarters.

Zach Karras shot 16-for-25 from regular field goal range and 5-for-9 from behind the arc to score 41 points. His brilliant individual effort also included seven rebounds.

Kjenstad led Evergreen Lutheran with 18 points, six rebounds and three steals. Leitzke scored 16 with seven rebounds. Goyins had 11 points.

The Eagles survived a 27-point, 11-rebound game from Christian Buck to defeat the Rainier Christian Mustangs, 55-50, in league action at Camp Berachah in Auburn on Thursday, Jan. 26.

Kjenstad had 15 points and Goyins scored 10. Shannon also earned 10 points and dished out four assists. Lawrence earned eight points and four assists while Woody Park had three assists and four steals.