In a come-from-behind finish, the boys basketball team beat the Hood River Valley Eagles 75-70 on Tuesday night, advancing to the Sweet 16 of the 5A boys OSAA State Tournament. The team will travel to Silverton on Friday night where they will take on the #4 ranked Silverton Foxes at 7pm.

Tuesday’s game was a difficult, grind-it-out win for the Falcons. Hood River Valley was red hot from the 3 point line in the first half, jumping out to a double-digit lead after the first quarter.

The team struggled to find the spark to get them back into the game until sophomore guard Ange Toku entered the contest late in the 3rd quarter. Toku came in and immediately got to the free throw line. After knocking down both shots from the line and playing some great defense on the other end of the floor, Toku made a buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the 3rd quarter to bring the score within three. Toku finished the game with 10 points.

The final quarter was a battle, with La Salle tying the game at 62-62 about halfway through the quarter, the first tie in the game since it was 0-0. After a few more baskets on both ends, the Falcons were able to capture their first lead of the game.

After clutch free throws from seniors Valois Gashongore and Keeston Smith, who finished the game with 27 points, the team was able to milk the clock and get the exciting, come-from-behind victory.

Looking ahead, a win in Silverton on Friday night would guarantee the team a spot in the elite eight at Gill Coliseum at Oregon State University in Corvalis.

“I think we are on a roll,” said senior guard and bench leader Michael Duarte. “Although we didn’t finish [the season] the way we wanted, I think we have a good shot at going to Gill. Silverton is big and good, but I think we are better and are more of basketball players than they are, not just athletes.”