The Sierra Lutheran boys' basketball team, a squad stocked mostly with youth and promise, has spent the majority of this season simply trying to become more competitive.
If Thursday night was any indication, the Falcons are in the midst of building a strong foundation.
Sierra Lutheran led for a good portion of its league matchup with Coleville before the Wolves put together a big fourth quarter to escape St. Gall Pastoral Center with a 53-43 win.
Coleville got 17 points from Jay Clark and 16 from Jason Peters, but the Wolves had trouble pulling away from the pesky Falcons until a 16-4 run to start the fourth essentially sealed the game.
The Falcons opened up an early 9-3 lead in the game and held the Coleville to just one field goal through the bulk of the first quarter before Dylan Hudson converted layups on consecutive trips down the floor to bring the Wolves within one at 9-8.
Center Lane Pawloski, who finishedtied for the team lead with 13 points, banked a shot in with three seconds left to give Sierra Lutheran an 11-8 lead.
The teams traded points through the first several minutes of the second quarter but Peters started driving into the lane and drawing fouls.
He converted three free throws and a layup in the middle of a 11-0 run for the Wolves as Coleville took the 23-16 lead.
The Falcons came back with baskets from Jonah Young and Levi Grabow, however, to cut the lead to 28-20 at the half.
Sierra Lutheran came out of the break with the hot hand and quickly put up a 13-2 run to take a 33-30 lead.
Young hit a series of mid-range jumpers during the run and Nick Depaoli scored seven of his 13 points to boost the Falcons.
Young finished with 12.
Coleville recovered with a basket from Clark and a basket and two free throws from Peters to take a 37-35 lead into the fourth quarter.
Clark caught fire with a series of breakaway layups and a 3-pointers to score 11 of the 16 points during the run.
Coleville's Marco Barajas scored seven points in the game and Jake Westerlund added five in the win.
Sierra Lutheran got three points from Bob DePaoli as well.
Coleville picked up a 43-16 win over Sierra Lutheran in Gardnerville Thursday night.
The Wolves got 14 points from Jessica Parkhurst, 13 from Kassie Pemberton and 10 from Amara Rowley in the win. Angel Vogel added two points.
Sierra Lutheran got six points from Haley Stokes, Kate Darby had four and Sarah Bates had two for Sierra Lutheran.
