The Ballard High School boys basketball team played with a lot of heart against Bothell in the Feb. 20 loser-out KingCo 4A playoff game, coming back from a nine-point halftime deficit. But, they ultimately had that heart broken in a 48-42 overtime defeat.

Eric Taylor, Ballard senior and regular-season leading scorer with 14.8 points per game, said the team was crushed in the locker room after the game.

"It's the worst feeling," he said. "Knowing we were that close to winning a playoff game."

The sixth-seeded Beavers found themselves down 26-17 at halftime, but scored six unanswered points to open the third quarter and narrow Bothell's lead. Bothell was only leading by two at the start of the fourth quarter thanks to a couple threes from senior Nolan Kozu.

Taylor tied the game at 33 with a pair of free throws and senior Nick Palewicz gave the Beavers the lead on a short jumper with less than three minutes remaining in the game.

After Bothell regained the lead, Ballard senior Berhan Mekonnen hit a jump shot with a minute and a half remaining to retie the game and eventually send it to overtime.

The Beavers had a chance to win the game in regulation when junior John Barnes shot a lay-in with 2.5 seconds left. Unfortunately for Ballard, Palewicz, who had been having a big second half, disrupted the shot in an attempt to tip it in and was whistled for goal tending.

Ballard couldn't muster much offense in overtime and Bothell was able to advance in the playoffs.

This was the first time the boys basketball team had made the playoffs since switching from the Metro league to KingCo 4A.

It was also the first time the team has won eight league games in the past 12 years, said coach Billy Rodgers.

Rodgers said he is confident in the future of the program and is returning three key contributers next season in John Barnes, Kyle Korsmo and Gary Smith.

He said he wanted to recognize leading-scorer Taylor in particular.

"Eric Taylor had a very special season," Rodgers said. "He will have a great future ahead of him as he plays at the college level."