McMINNVILLE, Ore. - In a dramatic season finale that came down to the final seconds, the Linfield Wildcats fell to the Whitworth Pirates, 72-71, at a raucous Ted Wilson Gymnasium on Saturday evening. The Wildcats celebrated Senior Night, honoring
Cayden Lowenbach,
Jack Greenwood,
Jake Downing and
Josh Ryan, who each played pivotal roles in the contest.
Linfield led for much of the game, including a 14-point advantage early in the first half, fueled by six three-pointers in the first few minutes of the game.
The Pirates closed the half on a five-point run but Linfield held strong, heading into the break with a 41-39 lead. However, Whitworth (22-3, 13-3 NWC) mounted a steady comeback in the second half behind Colton Looney, who led all scorers with 22 points, including six three-pointers.
The final minute was a whirlwind. With under a minute to play, Linfield trailed 70-69. After a missed shot by Whitworth,
Chase Bennett secured a key rebound. On the ensuing possession, Ryan careened around the three-point line after securing an offensive rebound and got fouled as the shot clock expired, resulting in three free throw attempts. The senior calmly sank the foul shots, giving Linfield a 71-70 lead and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
However, Whitworth had the final word. The Pirates advanced the ball quickly, and after a well-executed inbound play, Garrett Long drove right, found space along the baseline and buried a mid-range jumper with just 0.4 seconds left on the clock, sealing the win for the visitors.
Greenwood led the team with 13 points and five assists, while Ryan added 12 points, knocking down three three-pointers. Lowenbach contributed eight points and four rebounds, showcasing his leadership on both ends of the floor. Downing chipped in with two points and a rebound.
Despite the loss, the night belonged to Linfield's senior class. The contributions of Lowenbach, Greenwood, Downing, and Ryan have laid a foundation for the future of the program. The Wildcats also saw strong performances from
Max Juhala, who added nine points off the bench, and
Garrett Callsen, who recorded seven points, seven rebounds, and three blocks.
Linfield's season comes to a close with an overall record of 7-18 while going 4-12 in the NWC. The Wildcats showed promise throughout the season and have reason to be excited about the future as a solid core of young players performed well throughout the year.