All the Kennedy Catholic's boys basketball team needed was a stern talking to.

The Lancers looked like they were going to let another game slip way, watching Auburn-Mountainview nearly erase an 18-point lead in the second quarter in a district-playoff opener.

"We've had some games during the season where we would be on a low and lost to some teams we shouldn't have," said Kennedy captain Mitch Penner. "At halftime, coach (Don Hoffman) motivated us by telling us to start out at 0-0 in the third quarter and bring the same intensity we brought in the first quarter."

Penner, who scored a game-high 27 points, helped engineer a third-quarter rally with some slick passing and hit important free throws at the end to lift Lancers to a 69-59 win over Auburn-Mountainview in Class 3A District play at Kennedy.

The Lancers had lost five straight postseason games spanning two years, including a heartbreaking 78-77 loss to Pierce (Tacoma) deep into the playoffs last year.

Kennedy (13-7) now faces Greater St. Helens League champion Camas (15-6) Wednesday at Clover Park at 6 p.m. It was the Papermakers' first league title since 1962.

Against Auburn-Mountainview (9-13), Penner scored 10 points in the first quarter, sparking the Lancers to a 24-6 lead. The 6-foot-4 wing rotated around the perimeter, hitting mid-range jumpers from various spots and making easy buckets off strong drives as well.

The Lions' quick point guard Josh Upchurch helped bring his team back in the second quarter, scoring eight points, cutting Kennedy's lead to 31-27. Upchurch, a 5-foot-6 junior, scored on a three-point play (layup and free throw) and a three-pointer to end the first half.

It looked like momentum had shifted the Lions' way.

"Up by 18 and they still fought back," Penner said. "Kudos to them, they played well too."

The Lancers started the second half on fire. Penner fed sophomore post Cole Madison for two easy buckets to begin the third quarter and scored 10 more points to propel Kennedy to a 49-36 lead.

Kennedy would have to withstand another Auburn-Mountainview rally, however.

The Lions went on a 9-2 run to cut the gap to 52-47 only to see Madison score two quick baskets underneath, one on a follow, with 4:57 remaining in the game.

Auburn-Mountainview came right back on layups by Kekoa Nahaku and Marion Beauchamp, drawing to within 58-52 with 2:52 to go.

Penner then hit two free throws before senior 6-foot-4 post Chris Grandberry would make a big play. Grandberry blocked a shot, made the steal off it, and was fouled. He hit one of his free throws to give Kennedy a 61-52 advantage.

The Lancers would hit 11-of-16 free throws down the stretch in the fourth quarter. Penner was 4-for-4.
Kennedy was able to hold Beauchamp, the Lions' top scorer, to nine points. Beauchamp had scored 39 and 22 points in his past two games.

Kennedy senior guard Austin Coby drew the assignment of guarding Beauchamp.

"He's (Coby) our best defender," Penner said. "We like to put him on anyone who can score a lot of points. He's a team leader and gets after it on defense."

"One thing we brought to practice this week was playing a lot of defense," Penner said. "That was the emphasis."

Neal Leatherman scored 17 points and Jj Lacey 12 to lead the Lions.

For Kennedy, Madison scored 10, Grandberry nine and Coby six.

"This game (against the Lions) we came out with intensity and played to our best abilities," Penner said. "This win gives us motivation, it pumps us up a lot."