A night after giving SWCL leader Blue Eye a competitive contest, Spokane’s struggles against Crane continued.
The Owls have lost three straight to the Pirates and dropped eight of the teams’ last nine meetings, after falling 56-38 Friday.
Spokane managed just 21 points through three quarters against Crane. In contrast, the Owls led Blue Eye 46-45 after three quarters, before dropping a 62-55 decision.
Spokane hit eight 3-pointers against Blue Eye, but had just four treys opposite Crane.
“It’s rough on your legs and knees and it showed out there,” Spokane center JD Tate said of playing on back-to-back nights. “We were pretty tired, but that’s not excuse for losing.
“I drank a lot of pickle juice trying to get myself (ready) for tonight,” he added. “I don’t think we’re in the best shape we could possibly be in. We need to be in better shape.”
Tate scored 14 points against Blue Eye and had 18 versus Crane.
He is five games into his comeback from a fractured right fibula that he suffered the first week of December at the Marionville Tournament. He was out seven weeks.
“It was probably some of the worst pain I’ve ever felt,” Tate said. “I also fractured it last summer, that was a double-fracture. (Doctors) said it’s probably going to hurt for the rest of my basketball career. But that’s not going to stop me from playing.”
Spokane (9-13 overall and 3-3 in the SWCL) meets Sparta next week in what will be a preview of the teams’ Class 3 District 11 first-round matchup the following week.
CRANE (56) — Spyres 6 2-2 17, Brawley 1 0-0 2, Calzaretta 4 2-2 10, Vaught 8 2-3 20, Woodward 3 1-1 7.
SPOKANE (38) — Leigh 1 0-0 3, Essick 0 1-2 1, McCoy 4 1-2 10, Riott 2 0-0 6, Tate 8 2-5 18.
Crane 10 21 13 12 - 56
Spokane 6 13 2 17 - 38
3-point goals - Spyres 3, Vaught 2, Riott 2, Leigh, McCoy.
