Kennedy could not get on the train as it left on the tracks, so to speak, and, therefore, the Columbia River Chieftains became a runaway train and were gone, quickly, with a 57-44 eventual win, making the Lancers chances a lot tougher of making the state tournament after this important 3A West Central/Southwest Bi-District battle at Clover Park High School Friday.

Maybe some words of encouragement are due from head coach, Jason Prouty, after this one. He laughed at the words said of the question, 'Any words of encouragment from you for your players after this (disaster).' And it was a disaster.

The Lancers trailed 11-8 after the first quarter, which was OK. Three points, no biggee. But it was not OK to trail, 28-9, after the second. Yep, the Lancers scored one point in the second quarter.

"Words of encouragement from me," laughed Prouty, afterward. "I don't know about words of encouragement from me. Maybe for me."

Prouty then got serious quickly.

"They (Columbia River) showed up and wanted it more," said Prouty, in his first season as Lancers head coach. "We were stagnant with the ball. We allowed their 6-9 guy to affect way too many shots. We fed into what they did the first half. We got out of our game. But then we oustcored them in the second half."

To start the third quarter the Lancers were back in it, kind of, down, 35-25, entering the fourth quarter of play. Tre Watson with a couple running shots and a lay-up spark-plugged that run along with Marques Moorman, who scored three free throws the first half only. Moorman made 16 points to lead his team in scoring for the game in the end, though. But it was too little too late altogether for the Lancers, who just got off to that horendous start that ate their chances up in this one long before it was over.

The season is not done, fortunately, at least not at the time of this story. They still had a chance against Mount Rainier, with the winner on to state and the loser going home for the season. That game was played Saturday at Auburn after press time.

State goes March 5-8 in Hec Edmundson Pavillion and Key Arena for the boys and girls.

The Rams went to state last year, including upsetting Seattle Prep by a point on a last-second Alfie Miller three-point bomb, with most of that cast back. The Lancers also were good, having at one point a 19-game-win streak before it was abruptly, upsettedly snapped at districts short of state.

So, the game played Saturday between these two (after press time) was truly for all the marbles, at this point in the season anyway.

In this game, Kennedy versus Columbia River, the Lancers were never in it, in part because of 6-9 Chieftains big-man, Steven Bjornstad. It's a cliche but he played huge.

Josh White, the Lancers solid 6-7 big-man inside was not thinking too much about being outplayed by the taller foe.

"I forgot about that game, I got tomorrow," said White, who finished with five points, a little below his season average in the 10 point per game range.

Bjornstad had his way inside, scoring a game-high 28 points, with a lot of that damage the first two quarters to stake Columbia River to that massive 19-point lead going into halftime. He was unstoppable inside. It was not White's fault so much as this 6-9 player could dribble, shoot, pass, shot block (eight for the game). He could go out top like a guard even and get the ball and then pass inside before he himself goes under the hoop for a return of the ball into his mitts for a score.

But the Lancers can play better and their best game should beat this team's best game.

"We weren't moving the ball around like we were in practice," said Gonzalez. "We didn't break the zone like we should have. They were patient and we were anxious."

The Lancers had to be anxious, down so many points at halftime unfortunately. And playing from way behind starting already to the third quarter of the game is the antithesis of being able to be patient with the basketball on your end of the floor.

"We didn't come out strong at the beginning," said Gonzalez. "We didn't have too many answers. We were playing relaxed,thinking we had one more game, thinking it wouldn't be as hard (of a game) as it was. We came out strong in the second half, but it was too late."

After a turnaround of who was getting the most points in the third quarter, the Lancers were down 47-27 with 4:00 to go, and Bjornstad was the chief culprit, having made three baskets for six points and another four points from 4-for-4 free throw shooting.

That was the way it went for Gonzalez and his teammates, and Gonzalez is a strong athlete who was frustrated from having to alter his shots because of Bjornstad. He was hit in the lip in this game and the body and just had a tough time of it out there. Gonzalez scored five points, well below his 16 points per game average.

But, like White said, this game was forgettable with no ill effects, just needing to play big and beat their rival Mount Rainier. That is no small task.

"One more game, and, hopefully four more games after that," said Prouty.

State has four days of play opening round, quarterfinals, semifinals and final.