MONTESANO — Trailing 42-33 with less than four minutes remaining, it appeared Willapa Valley’s 20-game win streak and district championship aspirations would end after a string of Ocosta three-pointers at Bo Griffith Memorial Gymnasium in Montesano last Saturday.

Instead, the Vikings methodically mounted an improbable comeback, outscoring the Wildcats 13-2 over the final four minutes, capped by a layup from sophomore point guard Lucas Lusk (12) with 7.9 seconds remaining that would ultimately give the Vikings a 46-44 win moments later.

Now the Vikings — who haven’t lost since early December — are gearing up for a trip to the WIAA 1B state tournament, where No. 3 seed Willapa Valley will face No. 6 seed Tulalip Heritage in an opening-round game Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. at W.F. West High School in Chehalis.

Comeback kids

Willapa Valley junior Blane King (10) kickstarted the improbable comeback with a steal and breakaway layup, cutting the deficit to seven points (42-35) with three minutes remaining.

After an Ocosta miss, Willapa Valley junior Brody Ritzman (1) followed with a three-pointer, slicing the difference to four points (42-38) with 2:24 remaining, prompting an Ocosta timeout.

After the timeout, King (10) scored on a layup drawing the Vikings within two points (42-40) with two minutes remaining.

Ocosta answered, however, re-extending the lead to four points (44-40) with 1:40 remaining. It would be the team’s final points, however, as the Vikings closed the game on a 6-0 run for the win.

Back-to-back baskets from Viking sophomore Brody Aust (5) and Blane King (10) tied the game at 44 before sophomore Lucas Lusk (12) provided the game-winning layup with only 7.9 seconds remaining. A subsequent shot attempt on the last possession by Ocosta was no good.

“The shot clock was going down and I just had to go for it,” said Lusk, who scored six in the final period including his game-winning shot.

Willapa Valley junior guard Brody Ritzman (1) finished with a team-high 19 points, followed by teammate Blane King (10) with 11 points.

Up next: No. 3 seed Willapa Valley (21-2) will face No. 6-seed Tulalip Heritage (20-3) in the opening-round game Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. at W.F. West High School in Chehalis.