Sophomore Hornet forward, Brandon Dove, who was the leading scorer in the nail biter with 19 points, infiltrated the low post to score an easy backdoor bucket with eight seconds left for the difference maker in exciting hoop action last night and facilitate a 53-52 SPSL 2A conquest for White River.

The usual scoring suspects pulled a disappearing act for the Hornets in the first half and when WRHS fell behind 12-7 after the first quarter, Hornet boss Rick Tripp elected to pull the starters and put in his bench instead.

The back-up crew played well in the second period and by intermission was rockin the home gym, putting WRHS out front 21-19.

After riding the pines in the second frame, the Hornet’s starters seemed to snap out of their funk a bit and became far more consistent offensively, scoring 16 points in both the third and fourth quarters to sew up the close victory.

White River now moves on to travel to Fife’s gym for a 5:15 engagement with the Trojans this Friday, when it will try to glean an important SPSL 2A win to send the Hornets into what Tripp called “hell week” next week, on the wings of a triumph.

“We are going to need to build up some momentum going into next week when we host Sumner at 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday and then Clover Park at 7 p.m. on Friday. We’ve got to turn things around from the way we’ve been playing lately and a win against Fife this Friday on the road would be a great time to start,” Tripp noted.