Photo: Grafton Watah jumps high for a dunk in the early moments of the second quarter during a matchup against Henley Thursday, Jan. 09 at Klamath Union High School's Pel Court.
Klamath Union boys basketball opened Skyline Conference play with a 54-51 victory against rival Henley Thursday night at Pel Court. KU girls basketball fell to Henley, 74-36. #opreps
Look through photo galleries from both games on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/Klamath.Falls.City.Schools
The victory was something of extra worth for Klamath Union athletics as it was the first time since the 2020-2021 season the Pelicans have beaten the Hornets in boys varsity basketball. That victory came in a summer game, June 17, 2021, part of culminating events not sponsored by OSAA due to Covid-19.
KU basketball, in general, has found success against Henley as of late as its girls basketball team defeated Henley during the final conference game last year when former player Dianara Pena made a game-winning 3-pointer to help the Pelicans beat the Hornets for the first since a June 3, 2021 matchup.
Until Thursday night, Henley had won six consecutive boys basketball games against Klamath Union through the last three seasons.
The Pelicans were more than hungry for a Hornet victory, and showed it in the early moments of the matchup. Senior Grafton Watah opened the second quarter with an exclamation point as he stole the ball and quickly ran to the hoop for an emphatic dunk to help the Pelicans lead, 15-8. Klamath Union led by as many as 10 points in the first half and took a 28-18 lead into halftime.
Klamath Union's largest lead of the game was 12 points as Henley awoke in the third quarter, coming up with an 11-2 run to inch closer.
Henley's Nolan Mick tied the game, 34-34, with 2:54 to play in the third quarter before it was teammate Finn Charlton who gave Henley its first lead with his basket in the third quarter.
Henley finally found its groove and led by as many as four points with 6:08 left in the fourth quarter. It became KU's turn to take control and led, 45-44, with 5:05 remaining.
A jumper just short of the free-throw line from Watah gave KU a lead of 51-46 with two minutes left.
On the ensuing Pelican possession, senior Malcolm Lassett-Hankins attempted a 3-pointer, which was tipped around by teammate Ryan Glidden before Lassett-Hankins quickly came up with the ball and a layup as he jumped over Henley's Micah Ibarra, who found himself flat on the floor. Lassett-Hankins' basket helped KU's lead grow to 53-48 with 1:00 showing on the clock.
Henley did not go away easily as Ibarra then connected on a 3-pointer with 38.3 left on the clock as the Hornets trailed, 53-51.
Watah was fouled with 33.9 on the clock but missed two free throws after he had made all five of his free throw attempts prior.
Henley's Carson Siems was left all alone on the arc but missed a crucial 3-pointer. Watah was fouled again with 17.7 left and missed another free throw but made his second attempt to have KU lead, 54-51.
With all the pressure on Henley, Ibarra created space with a step back but missed a 3-pointer as Charlton tipped an offensive rebound to Ries Schmerbach, who was all alone on the corner of the arc but hit iron as time expired.
Watah led all scorers with 25 points. Lassett-Hankins and Landon Bogatay each added eight points for KU and Glidden had six points.
