Pullman Greyhounds win "Clash of the Combines"

PULLMAN - In the second annual Clash of the Combines, the cross-state rivals Pullman Greyhounds and Moscow Bears faced off in basketball action on Friday, Dec. 13.

The Greyhounds dominated from the beginning with the girls winning, 47-39, and the boys winning 73-48. A panel of judges made up of local community members also decided Pullman had more school spirit to win the Clash of the Combines trophy.

About $5,000 was raised for Alternative to Violence between the two schools.

The girls game was a close matchup until the end. Late in the opening quarter, Moscow's Addison Lassen stole the ball, passed it to Kilbi Kiblen, who dished it to Stella Rae for a 3-pointer to tie the game, 6-6. With 10 seconds remaining, Lassen hit a 3-pointer to put the Bears ahead, 9-6, to end the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter, Pullman's River Sykes and Taylor Darling each hit a field goal to tie the game, 10-10. Darling sank a pair of 3-pointers with Moscow gaining two-point field goals to slowly increase Pullman's lead.

At halftime, the Greyhounds were ahead, 20-14.

The Bears gained some points back in the third quarter, scoring 12 points and holding Pullman to eight. At the end of the quarter, Pullman had a small 28-26 lead.

The Greyhounds opened the final quarter with a couple of 3-pointers, courtesy of Darling and Eloise Clark. The Bears tried to keep up, but the Greyhounds kept the pressure on. At the final buzzer Pullman had won, 47-39.

Darling led the Greyhound with 15 points on six field goals. Sykes added 12 points and went a perfect 4-for-4 at the free-throw line. Clark contributed 10 points and Grace Kuhle added eight points for the Greyhounds.

The boys game went much more in Pullman's favor.

The Greyhounds took an 8-0 lead before Moscow could get on the board halfway through the first quarter. Cade Rogers sank a pair of 3-pointers and Daniel Kwon grabbed his own rebound for a layup, plus the foul for a traditional three-point play.

At the end of the opening frame, Pullman had built a 17-8 lead.

Pullman dominated the second quarter as well and at halftime the Greyhounds were ahead, 40-17.

Moscow lowered the deficit in the third quarter with Tyson Izzo scoring seven points and Grant Abendroth scoring 11. At the end of the quarter, Pullman still led, 50-33.

The teams traded 3-pointers to start the fourth quarter. Each team was able to pace each other for the remainder of the game until Pullman came away with the 73-48 win.

Gavyn Dealy and Daniel Kwon led the Greyhounds with 20 points each. Dealy made nine field goals and went 2-for-3 at the free-throw line. Kwon made eight field goals and went 3-for-3 from the charity stripe.

Vaughn Holstad added 12 points and Rogers scored 10 for the Greyhounds.

Next up for Pullman was to take on 2B opponent Freeman on Tuesday, Dec. 17, after press time. The Greyhounds will next face 3A foe Cheney today, Thursday, Dec. 19.