PREP BOYS BASKETBALL: Kellogg falls in bid for state berth

OROFINO — Kellogg’s bid to qualify for state for the first time since 2023 ended in heartbreaking fashion Friday night. 

The third-seeded Wildcats pulled even with the second-seeded Wildcats at 44 with just under two minutes left, only to see Orofino junior Blake Barlow hit a 3-pointer with 16 seconds left, lifting the Maniacs to a 47-44 victory in the 3A District 1-2 tournament second-place game. 

“That’s a tough locker room to go into,” sixth-year Kellogg coach Mike Martin said. “You play well, give yourself a chance to get to the state tournament. But real proud of them. Honestly, we played them better tonight defensively than when we beat them at our place.” 

Orofino (18-5) advances to state at Meridian High beginning Thursday. 

Kellogg finishes 12-12.

An inside basket by Kellogg senior Cayden Honnerlaw with 1:46 left tied the game at 44.  

Orofino missed a shot, and Kellogg committed a turnover, before the Maniacs passed the ball around the perimeter until Barlow found just enough room to connect from just right of the top of the key. 

It was only the third 3 of the night for Orofino, which was led by senior Nick Bonner's 16 points. Barlow, a junior, finished with 13.

Kellogg missed a corner 3 in the waning seconds. 

Honnerlaw finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds for Kellogg. After the Wildcats gave up four points on one possession (a basket, a foul on Kellogg away from the ball, and another basket by Orofino), Honnerlaw answered with a three-point play to tie it at 42. 

“lt looked like he was playing at a different speed; felt he was getting to a lot of loose balls,” Martin said. 

Kellogg senior Radley McDonald, who returned to action this week after suffering a torn ACL in June, scored all seven of his points in the third quarter. 

“He had his fingerprints all over the second half,” Martin said. 

Senior Draeden Taylor added 11 points for Kellogg.

Kellogg    12    14    12    6    —    44 

Orofino    10    14    9    14    —    47 

KELLOGG — Coburn 0, McDonald 7, Taylor 11, P. Lewis 6, Honnerlaw 13, Cheney 2, Vindasius 3, Kimstayton 2. 

OROFINO — Runia 2, Bonner 16, Schneider 8, Connolly 9, Barlow 12, Naranjo 0.