Slow start, slow finish sink Castle Rock against Zillah 68-56

Castle Rock fought its way out of an early hole only to go cold down the stretch as the Rockets lost to Zillah 68-56 in an elimination game Wednesday at the 1A boys basketball state tournament in Yakima.

After Castle Rock took a 6-5 lead early in the first quarter, Zillah finished the quarter on a 20-4 run to take a 25-10 lead.

Zillah extended its lead to 17 before the Rockets got within 37-27 by halftime.

The Rockets opened the second half with a 14-0 run and took a 41-37 lead after three-point play by Trystin Marin.

The Leopard took a five-point lead into the fourth quarter that got cut to 57-54 on Landon Gardner’s jumper with five minutes.

But the Rockets would make just one basket the rest of the way as Zillah pulled away.

Gardner led the Rockets with 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Lane Partridge and Adam Partridge scored 13 points each, with Adam Partridge pulling down eight rebounds. The Rockets were 2 of 13 from 3-point range.

ZILLAH 68, CASTLE ROCK 56

CASTLE ROCK (15-9) — Trystin Marin 3, Chase Rusher 7, Lane Partridge 13, Landon Gardner 16, Adam Partridge 13, Hayden Curtiss 0, Trevor Rogen 0, Connor Harris 0, Chance Naugel 0, James Montgomery 4, David Garcia 0. Totals 25-54 (2-13) 4-11 56.

ZILLAH (17-3) — Clay Delp 14, Carson Favilla 0, Ashton Waldman 24, Nakea John 7, Luke Naverre 10, Aiden Garza 0, Carlos Perez 2, Owen Avila 2, Nic Navarre 9, Ian Torres 0, Avery Dulude 0. Totals 23-43 (5-13) 17-24 68.

C. Rock 10 17 20 9—56

Zillah 25 12 15 16—68